Gourock Pupil Receives Certificate from Cal Mac MD
Ryan McGregor (18) from St Columba's High School in Gourock has received a certificate from CalMac Managing Director Martin Dorchester to mark the completion of an 18-month engineering course with the ferry operator.
Set up on behalf of Inverclyde Council via Inverclyde Community Development Trust, the 18-month Performing Engineering Operations (PEO) course is aimed at school students who want to complete their formal school qualifications but do not wish to focus on university. Instead, it satisfies a vocational interest in gaining new skills in advance of leaving school and entering the world of work.
It is the first year that the programme has been available and CalMac is one of a number of local engineering-related companies including Ferguson Marine Engineering, Rolls Royce, James Fisher Defence and Texas Instruments, to participate.
Ryan, from Gourock, is particularly interested in mechanical engineering and saw this as a good balance of practical work and college studies. He said: “I have hugely enjoyed my time with CalMac on the course and look forward to taking what I have learned to the next stage of my career in engineering.”
CalMac MD Martin Dorchester said: “I am delighted to present this certificate to Ryan to recognise his success in completing the PEO course. Ryan has personally demonstrated great enthusiasm, commitment & maturity in his approach to work and has integrated well into our Shore Services team. At CalMac we are keen to promote careers in engineering and were pleased to play our part in helping getting this course off the ground. We are also very proud of our Inverclyde roots so it is particularly gratifying to be able to help a young person from the local area.
Co-ordinator of the scheme, on behalf of Inverclyde Council via Inverclyde Community Development Trust, Kevin Millar said: "The course has been a huge success thanks to the much valued employer input in curriculum design that has allowed us to develop and implement this innovative vocational programme . We have had great support for the initiative from a wide range of employers including CalMac and it is very rewarding to see the course’s first participants, including Ryan, reach this important milestone.
Inverclyde Council Education & Communities Convener Councillor Jim Clocherty said: “This course is a fantastic way for young people to get hands-on experience and a real step-up the ladder towards achieving a career in engineering. It is so important that we all work together to provide the best possible opportunities for our young people if they are to reach their full potential. I would like to thank everyone involved for all their hard work.”
Photograph: Councillor Jim Clocherty, Ryan McGregor, Martin Dorchester and Kevin MIllar