Apprentice Engagement Group
The purpose of the Apprentice Engagement Group (AEG) is to promote the value of apprenticeships and to champion the contribution they can make to individuals, employers and the economy in Scotland, with the aim of inspiring career influencers and the next generation of young people and employers to get involved in apprenticeships.
The Group will work with SAAB employer members to take on an ambassadorial role and be the face of apprenticeships in the Scottish system.
The AEG is made up of current apprentices, recent past apprentices, and previous Scottish Apprenticeship Awards winners. The members act as ambassadors for apprenticeships who communicate the benefits and promote the expansion of Foundation, Modern and Graduate apprenticeships to individuals, employers, parents and other stakeholders.
The AEG’s roles and responsibilities are to:
- be ambassadors for apprenticeships with individuals, career influencers, potential apprentices, employers, parents and other stakeholders, promoting the value and benefits of apprenticeships
- play a consultative role to influence strategic stakeholders, Skills Development Scotland and other developments to support current or future apprentices
- communicate the value of work-based learning
- work with other SAAB members and Skills Development Scotland to help develop effective, streamlined and simple approaches to apprentice and key stakeholder engagement
- as a sub-group of the SAAB EEG, work with SAAB employer members to harness the power and influence of its membership to drive growth in high-quality apprenticeship numbers
- support work to improve diversity in apprenticeships, promoting apprenticeships as an attractive option to learners, parents and employers.
Apprentice Engagement Group Membership
The AEG is co-chaired by Kieran Anderson, Trainee Construction Manager at FES and Aimee Dickson, Business Management Graduate Apprentice at SPEN.
Kieran Anderson, Trainee Construction Manager, FES
Kieran joined FES Support Services in 2022 as a Trainee Construction Manager, and is currently in his 3rd year of studying, where he is working towards an honours degree in Civil Engineering with the University of Strathclyde.
Kieran was made aware of the AEG in 2023 when he connected with a former member on LinkedIn, he then went on to conduct his own research into the group as well as the wider SAAB and felt their mission and beliefs aligned with his own. Since then, Kieran has acted as an ambassador for apprenticeships and has used the AEG as a platform to bring awareness to their benefits for young people and employers.
At FES Support Services, Kieran primarily assists site and projects managers to deliver construction projects within the energy and renewables sector. He has previously worked on solar projects ranging from ~200kWp to over 5MWp, for clients such as Scottish Water Horizons, and the University of Stirling. He has also contributed to the construction of District Heating Networks, Ambient Loop networks, and Hydroelectric projects for clients such as Clyde Gateway and Balfour Beatty.
Out with work, Kieran enjoys travelling and socialising with his friends over sports, videos games, as well as the odd drink or two. He can often be found at his local golf course shooting 100 over par
Aimee Dickson, Graduate Apprentice at SP Energy Networks
Aimee Dickson began her journey with SP Energy Networks in 2020 as a Year in Industry student. Following the successful completion of her 12-month placement, she transitioned into a Graduate Apprenticeship with the company, pursuing a degree in Business Management at the University of Strathclyde.
Aimee is a passionate advocate for apprenticeships. Although she was initially encouraged by her school to follow a traditional university route, it was her parents who introduced her to the valuable opportunities apprenticeships offer. This experience has inspired Aimee to become a vocal ambassador for apprenticeships, working to challenge the notion that apprenticeships are somehow an inferior path, than further education through apprenticeships.
She is honoured to have recently taken on the role of Co-Chair of the Apprenticeship Engagement Group (AEG) and is enthusiastic about the opportunity to contribute in this new capacity.
Outside of work, Aimee enjoys spending time with friends and family, staying active at the gym and is an avid football fan—strictly from the sidelines!
The SAAB is currently recruiting additional Apprentice Engagement Group members to help bring ‘the apprentice perspective’ to discussions. Applications from current and recently qualified apprentices are welcome – please contact the team at the Scottish Apprenticeship Advisory Board.
| Name | Role | Organisation |
| Kieran Anderson (co-chair) | Trainee Construction Manager | FES |
| Aimee Dickon (co-chair) | Graduate Apprentice | SP Energy Networks |
| Mark Gullan | Assistant Asset Planner | Scottish Water |
| Rhys Howe | Digital Admin Assistant | Glasgow City Council |
| Meg Scot | Graduate Engineer | AECOM |
| Megan Harper | Technology Graduate Apprentice | JP Morgan Chase |
| Sonja Jillich | Technology Graduate Apprentice | JP Morgan Chase |
| Jennifer Kolonko | Senior Technical Operator | Coca Cola Europacific Partners |
| Kieran Anderson | Trainee Construction Manager | FES Group |
| Holly Kelly | Technical Apprentice in Career Development | Skills Development Scotland |
| Caitlin Mooney | Business Admin Modern Apprentice | Skills Development Scotland |
| Frazer Kleinman | Apprentice Detail Designer | BAE Systems |
| Ross Buckley | Engineering Apprentice | Amey |
| Marc Ingram | Food and Drink Operations (Butchery) | Blair Drummond Smiddy |
| Cameron Clark | Project Manager | Scottish Water |
| Steph Burgoyne | Business Management Graduate Apprentice | IBM |
Agency leads
- Graeme Hendry, Senior Partnership & Delivery Manager, Skills Development Scotland (Observer)
- Fiona Burns, Assistant Director: Access and Student Experience, Scottish Funding Council (Observer)
- Colin Moore, Policy Executive, Scottish Government (Observer)
- TBC
View full Terms of Reference.
Contact the SAAB team
For all SAAB support and general enquiries, please get in touch.