Scottish Apprenticeship Week 2017: Case Study on Health Care Non-Clinical Apprenticeships- Jamie Drever

Jamie, 24, has lived his whole life in the village of St. Margaret’s Hope in South Ronaldsay.

He is the oldest in a family of three sons. In his spare time, Jamie likes to play golf, football, darts and to socialise with friends. Although he did well at school, Jamie never had any real understanding of what he might like to do as a career. However, Jamie was good at, and enjoyed, Maths and English. Jamie started to look into further study that could have led to a career in finance, banking or insurance but he found the cost of higher education was just too much to take on. With college/university not being an option, Jamie took advantage of a job opportunity as a deck hand with one of Orkney’s local ferry companies.

Jamie worked as a deckhand for a period of two and a half years, before making a move to the Flotta Oil Terminal where he worked for four years with the terminals maintenance department. Jamie liked his work on Flotta, but the two hour commute to and from his work each day proved challenging. It was then that the opportunity arose for a Decontamination Technician within NHS Orkney. Jamie grasped this opportunity and was successful in securing the job, but it was only during the recruitment process that Jamie realised he would also be studying towards a Modern Apprenticeship (MA). Jamie now studies the Health Care Non-Clinical MA through Orkney College whilst working full time at the Balfour Hospital in Kirkwall.

The job Jamie has now been doing for around seven months is completely different from anything he has ever done in the past. Jamie enjoys the challenge of learning new skills, and working alongside other staff members within the hospital. Jamie has found some of the portfolio work he is required to do for college challenging, but feels well supported by college staff who meet with him on a weekly basis. The support offered by Orkney College staff has made the whole process more manageable for Jamie and he has enjoyed working towards his MA at Level 2.

Jamie would recommend studying an MA. Jamie feels that learning within a working environment really benefits a person’s ability to do the job well and gives a greater understanding of the processes used and why things are done in the way they are. Jamie equally thinks that doing his day-to-day job feeds into the work he is required to carry out for Orkney College.

Jamie said;

“I have really benefited from the support offered by Orkney College”.

“The work you do with college really improves the quality of your work”.

“You get a much better knowledge of your job when you study for an MA”.

“Your work and college really complement each other which makes learning easier”.

“I have found it challenging at times but not needing to worry about funding takes some of the pressure off”.

Kendall Kynoch, Senior HR Officer NHS Orkney said;

“We would highly recommend the investment in MAs if organisations were reviewing their future workforce”.

“The employee is gaining a qualification whilst also receiving a wage, gaining quality experience in an area that is of interest”.

“It opens the organisation up to look at new ways of working and up skilling staff to cover more diversity in their roles”.

“In my experience of dealing with employees, who are studying an MA, their motivation is high and productivity is increased”.

“NHS Orkney’s overall experience has been a massive success and has resulted in skilled and motivated employees providing a high quality service”.

For more information on apprenticeships please get in touch with Orkney College UHI on 01856 569 000.