Scottish Apprenticeship Week 2026 Wrap Up

Sarah-Jane Urquhart – UHI Perth National Training Programmes and Business Team Manager - brings Scottish Apprenticeship Week to a close ⬇️

🗣️ What a fantastic week it’s been! From inspiring interviews and valuable employer insights to a dynamic careers fair, the week has truly showcased the vital role apprentices play across all our industries.

🌟 Let’s take a look back at this week’s highlights ⬇️

1️⃣ Our week started with a ministerial visit from Murdo Fraser MSP to one of our local employers, WM McGarrie and Son. The visit - coordinated by Skills Development Scotland (SDS) - provided an excellent opportunity to highlight the strong and long‑standing partnership between UHI Perth and the metal fabrication specialist. Read more >>

Employees at WM McGarrie and Son with Murdo Fraser MSP

2️⃣ 90% of employers in Scotland report that apprenticeships significantly improve job performance within their company. At UHI Perth, we work closely with a range of different employers throughout Perth and Kinross to help develop the workforce.

Linda Reid, from Perth and Kinross Council, explained how the partnership between them and UHI Perth works >>

3️⃣ Throughout the week, we showcased our fabulous apprentices and employers⭐📹⬇️

Emily Wallace - Foundation Apprenticeship in Children and Young People

Erin Hardie - Modern Apprentice at Hillend Engineering

Lana Mackie - Foundation Apprenticeship in Social Services and Healthcare

Brendan Watson - Modern Apprentice at Edwards Engineering

Rachel Adam - Modern Apprentice at Auto Services Perth Ltd

Sebastian Strang - Modern Apprentice at Taymouth Marina

Alexis Gill - Foundation Apprenticeship in Financial Services

4️⃣ On Wednesday, we proudly hosted our annual Careers Fair in partnership with Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) and Skills Development Scotland (SDS).

Trisha Wood (SDS Team Leader), Lesley English (DYW Tay Cities Regional Lead), Aimee Leith (UHI National Training Programmes Coordinator) and Sarah-Jane Urquhart (UHI Perth National Training Programmes and Business Team Manager)

The event welcomed more than 50 employers and support organisations to our campus, based within our Academy of Sport and Wellbeing (ASW). Attendees showcased a wide range of opportunities, including full-time and part-time roles, volunteering positions, bank shifts, and internships.

Open to the local community and schools, the fair provided visitors with valuable opportunities to engage in sector-specific interactive activities, receive expert advice on CV development and interview techniques, and build confidence by practising essential networking and conversational skills.

““We were delighted to host this year’s Careers Fair at UHI Perth. It was wonderful to see so many attendees from schools, college and our wider community coming together to speak to such a wide range of employers. It was great to see valuable conversations happening all around the room throughout the day. We hope everyone who attended found it useful and left feeling more informed and inspired about their future opportunities.””

— Jill Elder - UHI Perth Depute Principal

5️⃣ If you were confused about apprenticeships, and not sure how to sort myth from fact, we debunked some of the myths.

💫 This week has been a powerful reminder of the vital role apprentices play in every business. They create a strong pipeline of talent, carefully developed and supported to meet the evolving needs of industry. Apprentices strengthen teams by bringing fresh perspectives, new ways of thinking, and creative, innovative approaches to their work.

It has been inspiring to hear so many success stories over the course of the week. We’ve reflected on the highs and lows of apprenticeship programmes, connected with new partners, and gained valuable insight into how industry demands continue to change. Most importantly, we’ve heard first-hand how essential apprentices are to driving business performance and supporting wider economic growth.

The impact is clear. For every £1 of public investment in apprenticeships, the return to the public purse is between £4 and £5. The £450 million raised in tax revenue helps unlock around £1 billion of employer investment in skills. Apprenticeships are truly #WorkingForScotland.

ℹ️ If you’re an employer - or a prospective apprentice - interested in learning more about the programmes available at UHI Perth, we’d be delighted to hear from you. Please get in touch for an informal chat 👇

📧 Busineessteam.perth@uhi.ac.uk

📞 Sarah-Jane Urquhart
National Training Programmes and Business Team Manager
07826 917805

📞 Aimee Leith
National Training Programme Coordinator
07385 945721