This week Colleges Scotland is celebrating Scottish Apprenticeship Week - there’s more details on all the activity taking place on the SDS Apprenticeships website.  We are highlighting the achievements of college apprentices starting with Katieanne Gibson at Edinburgh College: 

Name: Katieanne Gibson
Age: 31 years old

IMI diploma in heavy goods and public service vehicle maintenance and repair at SCQF level 7, 3rd year apprentice 

I was working as a cleaner in the bus industry in the meantime whilst looking for my next career move. I saw one of the mechanics opening up the engine bay of the bus and I was impressed by seeing the engine running and started to ask questions. I wanted to know what everything was and how it worked. I had no experience with vehicles apart from checking the oil on my own car. I eventually plucked up the courage to ask if an apprenticeship was possible and the mechanics were very supportive and encouraged me to ask the boss. The boss was very keen to have an apprentice and I got started straight away.

The experience has been life changing for me. I have learned so much and can’t believe the difference in myself from the beginning. I remember my first few weeks at Edinburgh College, I was very shy and embarrassed if I couldn’t do the tasks easily. I remember when I couldn’t get the wheel on to one of the small trucks, it makes me laugh now. I just needed to be shown the proper technique with these things and I showed improvement every time I returned to Edinburgh College thanks to the support from my tutor and my foreman. My attitude has changed through my apprenticeship, I’m more confident, hands on and happy to attempt any job that comes my way. I have been given the resources to learn which I have had access to throughout the course and my workbook printed by my tutor which I get to keep and I can use to help me in the future. I now have good understanding of how vehicles work and have learned to diagnose faults using our 6-step diagnostic process which I follow in every job I do. I see myself working on PCV’s, inspecting, finding faults and repairing and working my way up in the PCV industry.