Booth Welsh apprentices zero in on greener future
Apprentices at Booth Welsh are helping to power changes that will allow the engineering technology firm to support Scotland’s transition to net zero.
Leveraging the talent of younger workers and upskilling staff is a key strategy for the business based in Irvine, North Ayrshire, which believes it is critical to invest in apprenticeships to develop the leaders of tomorrow and futureproof skills.
The firm has linked up with Fuel Change, a social enterprise that partners with educators and employers to help apprentices solve real-life sustainability challenges set by businesses, and is committed to meet the UN Race to Zero Pledge.
Booth Welsh has trained more than 90 apprentices since 1994, with 67 in electrical and trades, 15 Modern Apprentices across engineering, marketing and administration, and 10 Graduate Apprentices working in cyber security, quantity surveying and business management.
Aimee Doole, Marketing, Communications & Engagement Manager at Booth Welsh, said: “Booth Welsh have been actively working on ways to support Scotland’s ambitions for net zero. At the beginning of the year, we took some time out as a company to re-think our purpose and today our mission at Booth Welsh is ‘through collaboration we engineer a better future’.
We want our apprentices to be involved with achieving their own net zero ambitions and ran an internal Challenge with Fuel Change to do this.
With support from senior employees, our apprentices and graduates developed a solution that would combine infrared heaters with solar panels, to reduce energy costs and more efficiently heat the company premises.
Our senior leadership team have been incredibly impressed with our young people’s innovative solutions to both global and our own sustainability problems.
Aimee added: “We have also made a commitment to meet the UN Race to Zero Pledge which focuses on accountability through measuring and reporting - a critical step since you can’t manage what you’re not measuring.
We were among the first companies to sign up to the Net Zero Nation Accelerator programme at the beginning of 2022 and now have our carbon accounts, carbon certification and a credible carbon reduction plan.
The business reinforced its commitment to investing in the next generation of talent by signing up to the Young Person’s Guarantee, which aims to connect all people in Scotland aged 16 to 24 to opportunities.
Booth Welsh has been recognised at the Scottish Apprenticeship Awards as a finalist in the Supporting Net Zero Employer of the Year category, sponsored by the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland.
Over 12,000 employers support Scottish Apprenticeships, which are work-based learning opportunities or jobs with industry-recognised qualifications. Designed with employers for employers, Scottish Apprenticeships are demand-led and responsive to regional skills needs.
Winners will be revealed at the awards, organised by Skills Development Scotland and set to take place during Scottish Apprenticeship Week from 6-10 March. Find out more about the award finalists and the event by visiting apprenticeships.scot/awards.