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Angus pair show how well Modern Apprenticeships can work

Nicole Allardyce hopes to one day have her own garage.
Nicole Allardyce hopes to one day have her own garage.

A 21-year-old Angus woman is following her dreams of one day running her own garage.

Arbroath-based mechanic Nicole Allardyce is relishing every minute of her Modern Apprenticeship.

The former Arbroath High School pupil was speaking ahead of Scottish Apprenticeship Week, which runs from February 29.

“I’ve always wanted to work in a garage,” she said. “It all started off when I was at school and I got the taste for it.

“In the future, I’d love to work my way up here and maybe one day run my own garage.”

A series of work placements led to a 13-week trial with car maintenance firm McConechy’s.

Nicole made such a good impression that she was offered a full-time job with the company.

Her boss at the firm’s Lindsay Street garage then suggested she begin a Modern Apprenticeship and give her career prospects a real boost.

Nicole explained: “The apprenticeship will give me a great qualification and it has really tested me, but I’ve learnt a lot.”

Her manager, Neil Anderson, said she has worked hard and is now a valued mechanic and member of their team.

Now in the third year of her apprenticeship, Nicole works across every aspect of car mechanics, from fixing tyres to adjusting handbrakes and exhausts.

Christine Walker, Nicole’s assessor and a trainer with the LAGTA Group, said: “I’ve been very impressed with her. She is only 21 but is way ahead of her years. Nicole recently covered for her manager and took charge of the whole garage; dealing with customers, orders and repairs.”

Engineer Stevie Davies opted for an apprenticeship over university when he left school.

The former Arbroath Academy pupil was encouraged by the idea of learning on the job while earning money and found his niche with GE Oil & Gas.

Having impressed colleagues with his skills, he’s now completed his Modern Apprenticeship in mechanical manufacturing engineering at the firm’s site in Montrose.

He said: “I got my final workbook completed in May 2015, which was a really good feeling as it meant I was qualified to the same level as my colleagues it felt like a real achievement.”

Stevie added: “This route has worked out perfectly for me as I’ve got a job, I’m qualified, experienced and I’ve been earning money all the way through.

“If I’d gone to university I’d now be struggling to find work due to the current climate, so it’s definitely something I’d tell other people to consider if they want a career in engineering.”