Day in Industry 

Over the past few years, ALIenergy's Education Officers have worked in close collaboration with Developing the Young Workforce Argyll (DYW), putting together a team to deliver an exciting STEM work experience opportunity open to senior phase students at the three high schools in our main project area of Mid Argyll and Kintyre. 

With support from DYW, key schools contacts and Argyll & Bute Council, the Day in Industry experience has enabled young people to put into real world practice a range of employability skills; completing the online application form, getting through the interview process and finally, for the successful applicants, getting to spend hands-on time in a STEM-related workplace. The project team have been very appreciative of securing participation from various STEM businesses based around the area.

For 2022 these were: 

• Hendrix Genetics Landcatch,
• MacLeod Construction Limited
• Renewable Parts.

The education programme funders  ScottishPower Renewables were also involved as a participating company.

During 2022, the support of these four companies enabled the project team to finalise arrangements for the Day in Industry experience. This included supporting the work that company contacts undertook to make sure that each work experience day allowed the young people to develop a better and more real understanding at first-hand of the company they visited and the different ways in which STEM skills are integrated into its' operations.

The successful applicants for 2022 were :

• Andrew Brodie, Ryan Conley, Niall Huie McCallum, and Lorne Paterson from Campbeltown Grammar School;
   
• Joseph Hubbard, Archie MacColl Smith, Murray MacDonald and Campbell Shaw from Lochgilphead High School; and
   
• Sophie Joy Denis, Christopher Sinclair and Guthrie Scott from Tarbert Academy.

The excellent video, captured by local videographer Kenny McLay, gives a great insight into the 2022 experience days.

In a few cases, the work placement days have led to further opportunities for the young people who took part, providing them with important next steps as they make the transition from education into the workplace.

With continued support and input from DYW and ScottishPower Renewables, ALIenergy can make the Day In Industry a regular part of the senior phase of education programme in the three Mid Argyll and Kintyre high schools, widening its reach to more companies and providing more new opportunities for young people in the years ahead.

Continuation of the work experience days enables ALIenergy to develop collaborative partnerships and strengthens ties between local STEM-related workplaces and schools in parts of Argyll.

If your company works in a STEM-related field and you would like to know more about hosting a young person to shadow one of the roles in your organisation, please get in touch. Also, if you are or know a young person in Mid Argyll and Kintyre with an interest in working in STEM and might be looking to take part in the project in the future, we'd love to hear from you.

For these enquiries or any more information on our project activity across Mid Argyll and Kintyre, please contact ALIenergy on 01631 565183 or email suzy@alienergy.org.uk.