Civil engineering graduates interview with industry as Highlands prepares for £100 billion infrastructure boom
UHI North, West and Hebrides celebrated the graduation of its third cohort of students from the CECA Scotland Academy Civil Engineering Operative programme – with graduates going straight from ceremony to interview, as leading civil engineering employers lined up to meet them.
A graduation ceremony was held at the Fort William campus on Wednesday 10 June, followed by an employer networking and interview event bringing together some of the sector's biggest names.
Employers attending on the day and conducting interviews with graduates included RJ McLeod, AKELA Construction, A. Kennedy Construction, Balfour Beatty, BEAR Scotland, Charles Brand and TSL Construction Ltd.
UHI North, West and Hebrides is one of eight CECA Academy Scotland college partners across Scotland, and one of only two in the Highlands and Islands.
The course was developed and is supported by the Civil Engineering Contractors Association Scotland (CECA Scotland) and its industry members, creating a direct college-to-work pathway for civil engineering operatives. This year, CECA Scotland's Juliet Mallace and Sandy MacGillivray provided pivotal support throughout – from recruiting candidates and liaising with industry partners to delivering sessions directly to students.
Over 18 weeks, students combine classroom learning with hands-on skills development on a purpose-built training site, work experience placements, site visits, and talks from industry experts. Graduates leave the programme with an SQA-accredited NPA in Construction Operations and their Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card – the essential qualification for working on UK construction sites. Practical skills developed include laying kerbs and channels, excavating trenches, and setting out design information from plans.
With up to £100 billion of green energy and infrastructure investment forecast across the Highlands and Islands over the next decade, the programme is preparing students for a sector facing significant and sustained demand. Major upcoming projects will require expertise across the decarbonisation of the rail network, water infrastructure upgrades, energy and renewables, major road works, flood defences, and port and harbour investment.
This year's cohort also benefited from outstanding support from industry partners throughout the course. Charles Brand facilitated a visit to the Corran Ferry Infrastructure Improvement Scheme; Balfour Beatty donated tools and materials; Corrie Construction provided spare materials from their yard; RJ McLeod's Kerwin Stephen delivered safety awareness training; and SureSafe, supported by funding form CITB, supplied essential personal protective equipment for all students.
Robert Ogg, Managing Director of Akela Construction and Board Member of CECA Scotland, said: "It's a pleasure to be visiting UHI North, West and Hebrides to speak with students, as well as their families and friends, about the wide range of opportunities available within civil engineering and the wider construction sector.
"Through our work with CECA Scotland, we're proud to represent an industry that contributes around £4.5 billion annually to Scotland's economy and supports over 30,000 jobs across vital infrastructure projects in road, rail, water and energy.
"From major energy connections and transport improvements to residential developments, the sector offers a diverse and rewarding range of careers for people with different skills and interests. I want to showcase this breadth and help individuals understand the exciting pathways open to them. I would encourage everyone to take full advantage of the insights and connections available, and to consider a future in an industry that is helping to build and sustain Scotland's communities for generations to come."
Ian McIntyre, Head of Civils of TSL Contractors Ltd said: “Being acutely aware of the importance of developing a local workforce, TSL have actively supported UHI/CECA in delivering this course over the last 3 years, ultimately employing 3 graduates to date. To the student’s credit, they have firmly grasped their opportunities and have integrated seamlessly into the TSL teams. This can be attributed in no small part to the enthusiasm of Claire Thompson, Martin Johnstone and the UHI team. With this in mind, TSL intend to continue in this vein by taking on even more graduates in the coming years and supporting the local economy.”
Andy Bate, Sustainability Manager at Charles Brand said: “We are proud to support the recent CECA Academy course at Fort William via our works at the Corran Ferry Infrastructure Improvement Scheme, for The Highland Council. The course is a vital solution to the industry's skills shortage and a way to cultivate future talent. Through classroom activity, skills development, site visits and practical projects, the students attained a great platform to build a career in the construction sector, in a safe and sustainable manner. It was rewarding to be part of their successful graduation and getting to speak to them individually on their plans and aspirations for the future. A fantastic day of celebration, congratulations to the students, their families and support network, CECA and UHI North, West and Hebrides, and to the companies and organisations that provide a helping hand.”
Sam Crowe, Social Impact Manager at Balfour Beatty said: “It is inspiring to witness these young people grow so rapidly in just 4 months. Their confidence and skill set have developed remarkably, and today we see individuals ready to embark on the next stage of their careers in the construction industry. Having such a transformational course embedded in our local communities truly makes these opportunities accessible to those in rural areas where our projects take place. We are grateful to UHI North, West and Hebrides for creating this pathway and opening doors for these students.”
Martin Johnstone, Civil Engineering Lecturer at UHI North, West and Hebrides, said: "Seeing this third cohort graduate is incredibly rewarding. What started as something entirely new for the college has grown into a strong, well-established programme, and the quality of what our students are achieving really reflects that.
"The industry partnerships that underpin this course are what makes It so valuable, from the equipment and resources donated by our partners to the expert input delivered directly to our students in the classroom and out on site. These young people leave with real, practical skills and the qualifications employers need to see.
"With the scale of infrastructure investment coming to the Highlands over the next decade, the timing couldn't be better for them and we're already looking forward to welcoming the next cohort in September."
Applications are now open for the next Civil Engineering Operative course, starting in Fort William in September: NPA CECA Civil Engineering Operative (NPA Construction Operations) SCQF 5 (Fort William).