Three of our pre-apprentice electrical engineering students have secured apprenticeships with UK’s leading generator specialist, Dieselec Thistle Generators.

Liam Powell (18 from Clydebank), Stephen Shah (21 from Yoker), Thomas Niven (22 from Dumbarton) will start with Dieselec Thistle in January and complete a four-year apprenticeship before they can go on to become a fully approved electricians.  

David McDougall, Works Manager at Dieselec Thistle, said:

We’re delighted to welcome aboard Liam, Stephen and Thomas. Apprenticeships are the life-blood of our industry, and a strong apprentice programme is vital to the long term success of our recruitment strategy.

The students are looking very forward to starting their apprenticeships. Liam said: "We start our jobs on the 4 January and what better way to start the New Year with a new job! The interviews were formal, but quite relaxed – regardless, we felt well prepared for them thanks to the course."

This once again proves the success of our pre-apprentice electrical engineering course, which has now been running for over a decade. We developed it to answer employers’ needs for a better format when recruiting apprentices and to help students secure employment as apprentice electricians. Joe Mulholland,Building Services Curriculum and Quality Leader at our Clydebank Campus, said:

This course, along with the Scottish Electrical Charitable Training Trust, provides good opportunities for eager youngsters to show what they can do and provides employers with apprentices who are reliable and who can demonstrate a willingness to work. The course is only successful because of the loyalty and support of employers, college management and industry, to whom we are very grateful.

Stephen acknowledges the course has been invaluable for him and his classmates. He said:

The course has given me the confidence to develop my electrical skills and ultimately has given me the chance to get on the career ladder. Most have my classmates have secured employment though this course, so we are all delighted!

From August this year, the course has found 17 four-year apprenticeships for students with 12 different companies.

To find out more, visit: /courses/course-directory/courses/engineering-electronics/pre-apprenticeship-electrical-engineering-18-weeks