20th June 2025
Graduation of the first Caledonia-sponsored Welding Pre-Apprenticeship Cohort
All 15 students in the first cohort of the Caledonia-sponsored Welding and Fabrication Pre-Apprenticeship with North East Scotland College (NESCol) and Energy Skills Partnership recently graduated.
The graduation also saw the announcement of £100,000 in funding for expansion of the Pre-Apprenticeship programme through a new cohort located at the NESCol Aberdeen Altens campus. Scottish Energy Secretary Gillian Martin also attended the event, recognising the value of the programme and announcing that the Scottish Government will be sponsoring a matching cohort at the NESCol Fraserburgh campus.
The Pre-Apprenticeship scheme helps address the welding skills gap in the UK by enabling young learners to gain the welding knowledge and skills required to enter the workforce directly as a Modern Apprentice. By giving pupils exposure to these skills and the training routes available locally, the programme has helped support a sustainable workforce pipeline in the North East. Over half of the graduating cohort have proceeded directly into the welding industry as Modern Apprenticeships.
Rocco, one of the graduating pre-apprentices who is now a full-time apprentice plater at Dales Marine Services Ltd. said:
“The Ocean Winds course was a great opportunity, and the department as a whole was fantastic.”
Lincoln, one of the graduating pre-apprentices who is now a full-time apprentice stainless welder at Fraserburgh Engineering Co. Ltd said:
“As a whole, the course was excellent. Lots of opportunity and the lecturers were brilliant.”