Alan McKeown had a driving ambition to becoming a construction worker and nothing was going to stand in his way.

Alan (18), former pupils of Hillhead High School in Glasgow’s West End, left school at Xmas 2004 and joined the Pre-Vocational Construction Course at the National Construction College Scotland (NCCS) in Hillington. Run as a pilot and funded by Scottish Enterprise, the course was a partnership between the NCCS and CITB-ConstructionSkills and over the next six months Alan learned the basics in concrete work, block paving, pipe laying, plant operation, ceiling fixing and built-up felt roofing.

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Robert Gillespie, Managing Director of G&R Contracts (Scotland) Ltd, based at Torrance, East Dunbartonshire said: “I have over 50 employees and was looking for an apprentice for drainage and concrete works. I contacted CITB-ConstructionSkills and interviewed a number of candidates from the course but Alan came across really well at interview stage and he got the job. With his insight into the industry he was a great asset to me and could be given jobs to do with the minimum of instruction.

He added: “He’s quick to learn, keen, enthusiastic and makes friends easily and in the first year of his training was a prize winner at the 2006 NCCS Awards Ceremony so as a reward I offered to pay for driving lessons for him.”

Alan commented: “I signed up for 20 lessons, passed my test first time and when I told Robert he gave me a £500 bonus.”

“I like to reward enthusiasm” Robert said, “Investing in Alan’s development brings its own rewards and to date he is performing well at college and on site.”

(CD)