Modern Apprentice Billy shines a light on tech career
Bright spark Billy Wotherspoon is using the talent and skills he learned on his Modern Apprenticeship to transform the way his company works.
IT apprentice Billy, 19, used his technical knowledge and skills to help lighting and electrical installation firm EGG upgrade its network equipment and systems to improve the company’s hybrid working systems.
He successfully itemised, ordered and installed £12,000-worth of grant funded kit and upgraded the firm’s intranet, stripping older wired systems to boost connection speed from 100Mb to 10Gb and reducing hazards.
Billy of Blairdardie, Glasgow, also installed a key card system at entrances on site to improve security and implemented password management systems.
Billy’s passion for IT started when he was involved in sound design and computing at school. The former Clydebank High pupil left school with Highers in Computing, Games Design and English but felt university wasn’t for him. He completed a Diploma for Information Technology and Telecommunications Professionals as part of his Modern Apprenticeship.
Billy has made our business safer and more competitive. He has proved unequivocally the value apprenticeships offer both business and young people.
Brian O’Reilly
EGG Lighting Managing Director
Billy said: “I wanted to get hands-on experience and earn a salary. A Skills Development Scotland Careers adviser helped me find the right pathway.
“The Modern Apprenticeship has helped me hone my IT skills and communicate on a professional level. It has really improved my confidence.
“Installing the new IT equipment was quite a challenge but I felt a real sense of achievement when it was done.”
Billy’s role covered a wide range of other business areas, including user support, vehicle trackers, setting policy and managing budgets.
Throughout the Diploma he was regularly assessed by learning provider Set Training & Resourcing Limited, based in Glasgow.
The Modern Apprenticeship also helped Billy develop teamwork and problem-solving skills, and he has applied his expertise in IT software and hardware to place EGG in a strong position for future growth.
Going forward, Billy would like to lead teams managing the IT industry’s latest technologies.
Modern Apprenticeships are jobs open to anyone aged 16 and over who wants to work, learn and earn. Modern Apprentices spend most of their time learning in the workplace while being supported by a local college or specialist training provider to gain an industry recognised qualification.
EGG Lighting Managing Director Brian O’Reilly said: “Billy has made our business safer and more competitive. He has proved unequivocally the value apprenticeships offer both business and young people.”
Set Training & Resourcing Limited Assessor and Internal Verifier Lewis Reid added: “Billy was an excellent student - he put a lot of time and effort into his work and really applied himself.
“He took on extra work in his own time and was involved in projects that were more advanced than we would have expected of him.”
Billy’s achievements led to him winning the Modern Apprentice of the Year - Level 6+ category sponsored by the Scottish Training Federation at the Scottish Apprenticeship Awards.
Scottish Apprenticeship Awards
Find out who the winners were and watch the awards event by visiting: apprenticeships.scot/awards.