Student Blog | Carpentry & Joinery Apprentice Duncan Macphail
Construction Apprentice Duncan Macphail tells us about his experience as an Apprentice with OMAC as part of Apprenticeship Week Scotland
Duncan Macphail in the Construction Workshops
O’Mac Construction is one of the largest building contractors on the Isle of Lewis. They operate an apprenticeship programme in a range of trade disciplines including carpentry and joinery, painting and decorating, and bricklaying. They are currently working with the college to support construction apprentices like Duncan Macphail.
Apprentices enjoy a combination of practical, on-the-job, learning and first class teaching. They receive day-release college instruction to build and develop skills, working on-site as soon as possible, putting training into practice under the careful mentoring of an experienced tradesperson.
Here Duncan tells us more:
Name: Duncan Macphail
Age: 18
Apprenticeship: Joinery
Company: Omac
Why did you choose to do an apprenticeship?
Because I enjoy hands on work and an apprenticeship seemed like the best way to get that. I get hands on experience and the opportunity to work with skilled crafts people.
What is special/unique about an apprenticeship with us? What opportunities did it offer you?
The opportunity to get a more in depth information of what I’m to do in my trade. I get to work and learn at the same time.
What skills and experience did your apprenticeship provide?
Learning how to be a joiner along with general knowledge of other trades. I get to go out into the work place but also learn with the experienced lecturers in the college.
What would you say to any local business thinking about taking on and supporting an apprentice?
I would say to them to try getting more people to know about these openings and what great opportunities an apprenticeship actually offers.
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