Our Modern Apprentices show there is #NoWrongPath

As Scottish school pupils open their exam results, many will be celebrating their grades and looking forward to the future. However, not everyone will get the results they need for further education and many will have no real idea of what they want to do

That’s why we’ve teamed up with Developing The Young Workforce (DYW) Tay Cities to promote #NoWrongPath, their social media campaign which reassures young people that exam results are not the only path to future success.

Careers don't always follow a straight line and the campaign also reminds young people who have gone on to further education that they are allowed to change their minds about what they want to do and have more available career options than they may realise.

As one of the biggest employers in Dundee, we have colleagues who come from many different backgrounds including our former Modern Apprentices, some of whom are supporting the campaign.

Hamish, 24, works as a Health and Safety Assistant based in our Dundee Head Office. He had no idea what he wanted to do when he left school.

Hamish told us: “I was always interested in reading and writing and liked languages but was definitely a bit aimless in terms of career and work. I got a job in a call centre to earn some money until I decided what I wanted to do. I ended up staying there for over 3 years! I had plans to do something else but the pandemic put a stop to that.

“I saw the position for Modern Apprentices advertised online and saw it as a great opportunity to ‘earn whilst you learn’. I liked that I could work full-time and earn a salary whilst also working towards a qualification.”

Hamish had not heard much about Social Security Scotland or the Civil Service before he joined but would recommend it to others: “I am currently a Health and Safety assistant at Social Security Scotland. I am part of a wider team who manage all Health and Safety related functions for the organisation. It’s not something I would have seen myself doing when at school – mainly because I didn’t know these sorts of jobs existed!

“I didn’t know too much about the Civil Service before joining, it’s definitely a good environment to work and learn, and shouldn’t be ignored by young people considering what their next job should be.”

Amy , 28, is a Security Advisor in our Dundee Head Office.

She didn’t know what she wanted to do when she left school but was interested in education. She studied social sciences at the University of Abertay and was going to follow up with a postgraduate teacher training course. However, a placement in a primary school made her realise it was not the right path for her.

After taking a year out working and travelling, she saw an ad for Business Administration Modern Apprenticeship with Social Security Scotland.

Amy was surprised at the role: “I never considered or was aware that the Government could be a potential employer. I was 24 and a Modern Apprenticeship was not something I had considered but I was very open to finding out more about this as it was the perfect opportunity to develop my skills in business.”

Since joining Social Security Scotland, Amy has been promoted twice and finds herself in a role she could never have imagined: “Three years on, I have gained promotion twice, firstly to work our Place team and then in the Front of House team which gave me experience of line managing staff. In January of this year, I moved over to a new role as a Security Advisor.

“I would never have imagined myself in this role but I am thoroughly enjoying it. I am learning new skills every day and gaining valuable experience to progress further within Social Security Scotland.”