To celebrate the 10th National Apprenticeship Week, Landmarc Support Services has highlighted one of its most recently qualified heating and ventilation apprentices, Kieran Muirhead, in order to celebrate his success and promote apprenticeships as an exciting alternative route into a career.
Landmarc is the provider of facilities management and support services across the Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) UK national training estate. Kieran Muirhead started his heating and ventilation apprenticeship with Landmarc in 2013 after successfully undertaking interviews and aptitude testing.
Kieran comments: “I decided to do an apprenticeship with Landmarc as I felt that it was a great opportunity to start my career. Landmarc is a national company and it definitely appealed to me to get my foot in the door with an organisation where I would have the opportunity to further my career.”
Upon starting with Landmarc, he was mentored by a regional gas engineer. In addition to this, Kieran attended a college in Edinburgh to gain an academic qualification along with the practical qualification for the apprenticeship.
“Day-to-day life is a lot different when you’re an apprentice. In the beginning it was hard to get in a routine as I was used to being at school, but the support of the company and the people I have met has made the transition a lot easier.
“The apprenticeship took four years to complete, but now Landmarc is giving me further training to keep me up with the current standards. I would recommend apprenticeships to anyone looking to get into a specific trade. In my case, Landmarc was there to support and help me at all times by making sure I had the appropriate training to complete the apprenticeship.”
Kieran has now completed his apprenticeship and is Gas Safe qualified for domestic installations, with qualifications in commercial and LPG installations soon to be completed. He is proving to be an invaluable member for the regional maintenance team, and once he obtains his final qualifications, Kieran will share the Scotland area of the region with one other engineer.
Kevin McBay, Built Estate Delivery Advisor for Landmarc and Kieran’s mentor, commented: “Kieran has come a long way from the young lad that we took on to the qualified Gas Engineer we have now. He still has some learning to do as a qualified tradesman, but as with every apprentice that completes their time, they need to find their own way of working ensuring that they can stand alone and still work safely by themselves and with others around them.
“Kieran is more confident now in making his own decisions, but still mature enough to ask questions if he isn’t sure. He will be wholly responsible for maintenance of gas boilers and water infrastructure at major military training locations Garelochhead and Kirkcudbright, and I am confident that he will take this challenge and make the sites his own.
“I believe that any young person who wants a variety of work and the chance to develop within a trade that they choose should consider an apprenticeship – it’s worked out fantastically for Kieran and it could do for you too.”
