Guaranteed job interviews for second cohort of civil engineering graduates
Students completing the latest CECA Scotland Academy Civil Engineering Operative course in Fort William have once again celebrated the end of their studies with guaranteed job interviews, highlighting the continued success of the programme in addressing skills shortages in the civil engineering sector.
A graduation ceremony was held at UHI North, West and Hebrides’ Fort William campus on Wednesday, January 14th, to celebrate the second group of students to complete the CECA Scotland Academy Civil Engineering Operative course. Following the success of its first year, the course continues to provide a direct pathway into employment within the industry. UHI North, West and Hebrides is one of six CECA Scotland Academy college partners in Scotland.
Representatives from civil engineering firms across the West Highlands attended the event, including RJ McLeod, Bear Scotland, TSL Contractors, Balfour Beatty and Story Contracting. Following the ceremony, these firms conducted job interviews with all the students as part of an employer networking event.
The course was designed and supported by The Civil Engineering Contractors Association Scotland and its industry members as a college-to-work pathway, aiming to create more qualified civil engineering operatives for the sector.
The civil engineering industry urgently needs skilled professionals to support future infrastructure projects, including the decarbonisation of the rail network, water infrastructure upgrades, energy and renewables developments, major road projects, flood defences, ports and harbour investment, and house building.
The 18-week course offers an important route into the industry, with students gaining an SQA-accredited NPA in Construction Operations and their Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card, demonstrating to employers that they have the appropriate training and qualifications to work on UK construction sites.
The programme includes three days per week in college, developing skills on a purpose-built training site, two days of work experience with employer TSL Contractors, site visits, and campus talks from industry experts. Students have gained a wide range of groundwork skills, including laying kerbs and channels, excavating trenches, and ‘setting out’ design information.
The graduation ceremony featured a presentation by CECA Scotland on opportunities within the sector, alongside Claire Thomson, Curriculum Manager for Engineering, Construction and the Built Environment, who spoke about the hands-on nature of the course and the support provided by CECA and industry partners.
Lydia Rohmer, Principal and Chief Executive of the college presented students with their awards and in her address commented: “This is a proud moment for our graduates, for their friends and families and for the whole community of partners who have walked alongside them during their individual learner journeys, making this course such a success. It’s a powerful example of what we can achieve when colleges, industry and sector bodies come together with a shared purpose and ambition and a powerful statement about the confidence placed in our regions young people and our college.
For our region, this matters deeply. Opportunities like this help our young people build the infrastructure of tomorrow while building their futures and homes right here in the highlands.”
Speaking directly to the students she continued:
“This graduation brings your time at college to an end, but it’s also the beginning of something significant both for you and for our region. I for one will be excited to see where you go next.”
Mark Bramley, Commercial Director of Capstone Construction in Inverness and former Chair of CECA Scotland, said:
“It was a real pleasure to attend UHI North, West & Hebrides College’s graduation and meet so many talented civil engineering operatives. Through strong engagement with employers via CECA Scotland, the post-graduation job fair offered the graduates a valuable opportunity to start their career in civil engineering, across a sector offering more than a decade’s worth of certain opportunity - from rail and energy to roads and water. While not everyone will have secured a role immediately, this has been an important first step, with encouragement given to all of the students to make the most of every conversation and opportunity ahead.”
Martin Johnstone, Civil Engineering lecturer at UHI North, West and Hebrides, said: "We are delighted to have had the opportunity to be able to help the students gain valuable practical skills as well as the crucial elements of Health and Safety needed on modern project sites.
We are especially grateful for the generous contributions of equipment and resources from our industry partners. From surveying instruments to site safety gear and specialised training tools – their investment has deepened the partnership between the college and employers and created an innovative and uniquely effective model to deliver the pipeline of skills that are so crucial in meeting the needs of the industry.”
TSL Contractors has supported the course from the outset, providing the students with two days per week of paid work experience in groundwork, which included laying foundations, kerbs and slabbing.
Ian McIntyre, Head of Civils, TSL, said: “There’s a clear shortage of local civil contractors – currently, 10% of our workforce comes from the central belt because we simply don’t have enough people with the right skills here.
“By supporting this course, we’re able to support the training of candidates locally and employ them directly, which benefits us as well as the wider community. This is a practical, hands-on course that formalises a clear route into the industry. It’s something that’s been needed for decades.
“We will be taking on some of the candidates we’ve interviewed today and look forward to working with UHI North, West and Hebrides again with the next cohort of CECA students starting January 2026.”
Billy Baxter, Customer Engagement Manager Scotland CITB “CITB is pleased to support the CECA Scotland Academy at Fort William UHI North, which is helping to build a strong, skilled civil engineering workforce for Lochaber and the wider Highlands. By linking funding with industry-led training, this programme is creating real opportunities for learners and supporting employers to meet current and future demand.”
The January 2026 Course has already begun with a new group of students and applications are now open for the next Civil Engineering Operative course, which starts again in Fort William in September: NPA CECA Civil Engineering Operative (NPA Construction Operations) SCQF 5 (Fort William)