Connection with Careers Adviser provides pipeline of local talent for employer
A partnership between a business and a local Careers Adviser has boosted job opportunities for young people in a rural community.
Patriot International, based in the remote location of Oldmeldrum in Aberdeenshire, has grown to become an international specialist in piping for the energy sector.
In 2023, the company contacted the Skills Development Scotland Careers Adviser at Meldrum Academy, David Hooper, looking for young locals to recruit.
Since then, the link has led to a pipeline of talent for the firm and provided valuable career opportunities for young people across the area.
David explained: “Patriot got in touch with me looking for school leavers for their internal Trainee programme. The company is a major supplier to the oil and gas industry, with fantastic engineering opportunities.
“Oldmeldrum is remote and a lot of locals weren’t aware that it was on their doorstep. Patriot is offering the chance to get some fantastic skills and a great career, with the benefit of staying local.”
Helping solve a skills gap
Skills Development Scotland (SDS) has professionally qualified careers advisers in every state school in the country, providing pupils with face-to-face guidance. The career information advice and guidance (CIAG) offered through SDS enables young people from S1-S6 to develop their career management skills.
Training lead at Patriot, Harley Sherret said: “We identified a gap in the market and a requirement for specific disciplines where we need expertise. Our strategy is to bring in school leavers with an interest in hands on work and develop their abilities using our proven techniques.
"Our local recruitment approach for young talent ensures that transportation and accessibility aren't obstacles for young people starting their careers."
David organised visits for pupils to attend trial days at Patriot’s site and supported them in preparation for interviews with the company.
Widening the local talent pool
The relationship with the company has continued through David’s move to support pupils at Inverurie Academy. Opportunities from Patriot are sent to him and the current SDS careers adviser at Meldrum Academy, meaning even more young people are accessing chances at Patriot.
Harley added: “Our partnership with David has been extremely helpful. He has successfully connected us with young people from both local high schools, providing them with valuable exposure to career opportunities and roles within our company while also supporting them with interview preparation.
“Patriot operates on sites across the UK and globally, creating opportunities for our Technicians to work at various locations worldwide, which is an exciting career prospect for recent school graduates.”
Two teens who benefited from David’s support were former Meldrum Academy pupils, Kai Anderson and Keigan Farquhar.
David started to work closely with the 18 year olds in 2023 when they were in S4 and both unsure about their future.
Taking them under his wing, David helped them with Career Management Skills, which includes personal exploration and coaching.
David explained: “The boys had no sense of direction, with their heads in the sand when it came to thinking about what they would do beyond school.
“Once I got them to open up I could tell that, although they both had different strengths, they could benefit from finding out more about hands on work.”
Identifying opportunities and making connections
Keigan said: “Initially, David and I looked together at the grades I would need for a career in the military. Through our work, I realised that school wasn’t my thing and I didn’t want to stay on. That’s when David told me about the opportunity with Patriot. The role really appealed to me, because it wasn’t an office based job and there was the chance to travel, which was also why a career in the military had initially appealed to me.”
David organised for the boys to be part of the first group to visit Patriot and it was clear they stood out from the crowd.
Kai said: “In school, I was initially interested in becoming an electrician, because I wanted to do a job that involves being hands on. I was really excited about the chances and opportunities I would get at Patriot. There’s not a lot of local companies that offer similar prospects.”
David said: “You could see the aspiration from Keigan and Kai shooting through the roof. Keigan threw himself at the opportunity, researching the company and the types of jobs involved. I was really impressed that a 16 year old had done so much preparation.”
On-going advice and support
Patriot bosses also noticed Keigan and Kai when both interviewed with the company.
David supported them through interview preparation and both were successful candidates, joining Patriot’s 18 month training programme.
Kai said: “David helped with interview practice, which made me feel confident about it, as I expected everything that happened.”
Harley said: “Keigan and Kai had no experience when they came to our workshop for their trial days, but their positive attitudes made a strong impression, and they came across really well during the interview process.”
Two years on and the pair are flourishing at Patriot, continuing to train as Mechanical Technicians and have already gained some valuable onsite experience in the UK and overseas.
David said: “Kai and Keigan still keep in touch and send me well wishes at Christmas. It’s great to know that I’ve been able to help them show their true potential and help get them started in their careers.”
Recently, David put another seven pupils forward for Patriot’s latest recruitment drive, with two from across each local school being successfully recruited. Keigan and Kai have been helping to induct the new starts.
David said: “An important part of my job is to give young people in this rural area access to as many opportunities as possible and give them the confidence and skills to succeed in life and work.”
David Hooper is one of over a thousand Skills Development Scotland Careers Advisers providing expert career information, advice and guidance in all state schools and in SDS centres and community spaces across Scotland.
Pupils can speak to their SDS careers adviser at school and, for careers support at any age, visit myworldofwork.co.uk or call 0800 917 8000 to find out about support in your area.