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Investing in the Future – Apprenticeship Success at Nicol of Skene
At Nicol of Skene Ltd, we believe in nurturing talent at every stage. Our recent apprentices are a testament to that belief – bringing energy, innovation, and dedication across both site and office-based roles. We’re proud to share the success of four apprentices who have recently completed their two-year journeys with us and stepped into exciting new roles within the business.
Kenzie – Civils Operations Apprentice
Kenzie spent his two years working across various housebuilding sites, gaining experience in plot works, landscaping, drainage, and sewer systems. Mentored by Colin, Kenzie quickly found a natural aptitude for drainage works, often completing tasks with minimal supervision. His hands-on skills and confidence on site have made him a valuable asset to the civils team, and we look forward to watching him continue to grow in his career with Nicol of Skene.
Dan – Drilling Operative Apprentice
Dan completed his apprenticeship in horizontal directional drilling, working on projects throughout Scotland – including a significant role on a major infrastructure project in Shetland. Under the guidance of mentor Jordan, Dan developed the skills and knowledge to operate a wide range of drilling equipment, including our largest rig – the Ditch Witch AT120. Dan's progression is a great example of how opportunity and mentorship can transform potential into performance.
Brooke – Business Administration Apprentice
During her apprenticeship, Brooke rotated through key business areas including Operations, Multi-Utilities, Commercial, Accounts, HR, QHSE, and Reception. This broad exposure gave her a well-rounded understanding of our internal operations. Brooke has now taken on the role of Office Administration Assistant, focusing on reception, HR, QHSE, and general administrative duties – continuing to provide the same calm and efficient support she demonstrated during her apprenticeship.
Mollie – Business Administration Apprentice
Like Brooke, Mollie experienced a wide range of departments during her two-year apprenticeship. Her enthusiasm and attention to detail made her a natural fit in operational support. Mollie is now our Operations Administration Assistant, responsible for day-to-day operational administration, assisting the Multi-Utilities team, and processing purchase orders.
Reshaping the Apprenticeship Experience (2021–2025)
At Nicol of Skene, we’ve made a long-term commitment to investing in early careers – and the last few years have marked a transformational period for our apprenticeship programme.
Following a collaborative industry push in 2021, alongside other local civil engineering companies, we were pleased to see NESCol introduce a new course tailored specifically to the needs of our sector. This was a vital step forward in aligning education with real-world industry requirements. Working together with peer companies has been instrumental in making the course a success, and we’re proud to have been part of that journey.
Building on that momentum, we made it a priority in 2022/2023 to improve our own apprenticeship experience – not only within civil engineering, but across all areas of our business. With feedback from previous years in hand, we redefined our approach – starting with the appointment of Tara, our HR Advisor, in 2023. Tara introduced a clear, structured system focused on:
In parallel, Gillian in our HR team has strengthened our internal development systems by ensuring all training – both mandatory and developmental – is kept up to date and booked on time. This focus on operational efficiency and employee development has created a workplace where growth is supported from day one.
Externally, Nicol of Skene is proud to be a DYW North East Pledge Partner, reinforcing our commitment to promoting careers in our industry. In 2024/2025, we’ve already:
These combined efforts – within the business and in the wider community – reflect our belief that developing talent at the earliest stages is essential not only to our business but to the future of the construction and civil engineering industry.
Stephanie Nicol, HR Director at Nicol of Skene shared,
"As a family-owned business, people have always been at the heart of everything we do at Nicol of Skene. Our apprentices are more than just trainees – they’re future leaders, specialists, and contributors to our long-term success. We’ve built our apprenticeship programme not only to equip young people with the skills they need, but to give them a place where they feel supported, valued, and proud to belong.
It’s incredibly rewarding to see our apprentices grow – both personally and professionally – and step into meaningful roles across the business. Watching Kenzie, Dan, Brooke, Mollie, and many others succeed reminds us why investing in early careers is so important.
We look forward to supporting the rest of our apprentices as they continue their journeys with us, and we’re excited about the future they’re helping us build. We’re proud to be growing our own talent – and even prouder that so many of our apprentices are choosing to build long-term careers with Nicol of Skene. Developing the next generation isn’t just a business objective for us – it’s a responsibility we’re proud to lead on.”
Apprenticeship and Placement Growth Timeline
2023 Intake:
2 Civils Operations Apprentices
2 Business Administration Apprentices
1 Drilling Apprentice
1 Mechanic Apprentice
1 current employee began a Graduate Apprenticeship in Construction & Built Environment at RGU
2024 Intake:
2 Civil Operations Apprentices (now nearing the end of Year 1)
1 Quantity Surveying (QS) Apprentice – Graduate Apprenticeship at RGU (starting September 2024)
1 Foundation Apprentice Mechanic
3 Civils Work Experience Students (including 1 through Barnardo’s)
1 HGV Work Experience Student
2 RGU Placement Students (Quantity Surveying)
1 Trainee Estimator
2025 So Far:
4 Civil Operations Apprentices
1 Multi-Utilities Apprentice
Ongoing work experience opportunities
1 RGU Placement Student (QS), who completed their placement in May and is continuing with us through the summer
These combined efforts reflect our long-term goal: to build sustainable careers, inspire new talent, and create a workplace where people can grow with confidence – right from the start.