Benefits of a CalMac Apprenticeship
Caledonian MacBrayne’s Modern Apprenticeship Programme is part of our commitment to supporting local economies and helping the communities we serve to thrive. It’s also a unique opportunity for people to remain based in their community while gaining an exciting career at the same time. We are looking for a total of 20 dedicated and enthusiastic 17–24-year-olds who have a genuine passion for maritime to apply to join one of our industry-leading seafaring programmes in deck and engineering.
This year, we are also delighted to be offering a fantastic opportunity to train as a shore-based mechanical engineer apprentice.
Our current apprentices say that they are enjoying the mixture of learning and working at the same time, and that they feel they are improving their skills and expanding their knowledge. While it may be daunting to join a vessel at such a young age, they have reported that all crew have given them a warm welcome and go out of their way to answer questions and to support them. They are enjoying different experiences every single day as they learning what it’s like to be a seafarer with CalMac.
Another aspect that our apprentices tell us that appealed to them the most is the chance to train for a skilled job while continuing to be based at home in the Western Isles and west coast. This aspect was a real attraction for our current recruits, who come from communities across our network, including Stornoway, Barra, Islay, Cumbrae and Oban.
Time spent training on vessels is interspersed with periods spent at college in Glasgow working through a number of short courses. Once the apprenticeship has ended, there are opportunities to join CalMac on a permanent basis. With regards to the Mechanical Engineering Apprenticeship, you will gain invaluable workplace experience working alongside a highly skilled and experienced team with a broad range of knowledge and expertise.
This exciting opportunity will allow you to develop your skills not only in the workshop but also on CalMac’s vessels across the network, providing a diverse and dynamic learning environment.
As well as practical training and learning, we take the well-being of all staff very seriously. Living at sea can be a lonely time for anyone, however experienced they are, and we do as much as we can to look after our young apprentices. They have their own personal mentors throughout the course and access to our team of mental health first aiders, as well as employee assistance programme through a mobile app, which advises on personal issues outside of work. Equality and diversity are also important to CalMac, and we are dedicated to welcoming people from all backgrounds into every sector of the company.
For example, while the worldwide maritime sector has only 1.2% of women working in it, the figure at CalMac is more than 10% and we are committed to doing as much as we can to increase this.
Our seagoing modern ap- prenticeship scheme is a fantastic opportunity for anyone based across our communities looking for a career at sea, whether they are just starting out in the world of work or would like a career change.
There are many rewards to a CalMac modern apprenticeship, including:
• We pay for your college, travel, accommodation and cover your meals when you are away from home - no student loans required.
• Off the job training at college.
• Excellent salary with increments throughout your training.
• On the job training by experienced professionals who will help you all the way.
• Two weeks at work and two weeks off working pattern.
• Your own personal mentor to support you with a career at sea.
• Company pension scheme.
We are accepting applications from 3-17 March, so please apply on our website here www.calmac.co.uk/careers/modern-apprenticeships
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