A BORDERS business is showing how apprenticeships can lead to successful careers.
Fleming Homes, based in Duns, has supported a number of apprentices in recent years, offering opportunities for young people to use the skills they learn through study in the real world of work.
As an SME (small to medium enterprise), Fleming Homes has adopted an 'attitude over aptitude' policy - believing that with candidates who are the "right fit", staff can provide the necessary training to help apprentices during their placements.
One of Fleming Homes' apprenticeship success stories is Asher Humphrey-Martin.
He said: “Being able to directly apply what I was studying to real life scenarios has made for a much more rounded learning experience."
Asher initially joined Fleming Homes in 2016 for a two-week work placement, and never left.
After accepting a permanent position with the Duns company, Asher completed a modern apprenticeship at Edinburgh College over two years, and then moved on to a graduate apprenticeship scheme with Edinburgh Napier University - which he graduated from in July 2023 with first class honours.
In January, 25-year-old Asher was appointed construction design manager, heading up Fleming Homes' team of five technicians who look after clients' projects throughout the construction design phase.
He said: "I’ve effectively graduated from university with nearly seven years of relevant experience in the field, and that’s allowed me to take on a management role that I would otherwise still be years away from.”
Fleming Homes managing director and DYW Borders board member Sarah Mathieson said: “Asher’s journey highlights perfectly that the traditional route through higher education isn’t the only way to achieve academic and career success”.
According to www.apprenticeships.scot there are around 40,000 apprentices in training across Scotland with more than 12,000 employers.
Apprenticeships are available to anyone aged 16 or over and not in full time education.
Scottish Apprenticeship Week runs from March 4-8 and celebrates the many benefits that apprenticeships can bring to a variety of stakeholders.
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