Glasgow apprentice overcomes injury setback to complete Painting and Decorating apprenticeship

A young woman from Glasgow is preparing to sit her skills test and qualify as a tradesperson, after overcoming a serious knee injury during her apprenticeship.

Demi Crawford is completing her Painting and Decorating apprenticeship through City Building Training College in Glasgow, which delivers bespoke apprentice programmes across most trades, using Qualifications Scotland qualifications as a base for its training programme.

Her story is one of many that illustrates how apprenticeships can support young people through setbacks as well as successes, and how the right support at the right time can keep someone on track towards a qualification and a career.

Demi said: 'I enjoy being creative, so a Painting and Decorating apprenticeship appealed to me. I really enjoy the social aspect of the job, working in customers' properties and talking to them. Glasgow is a very diverse city and I find that interesting. No two days are the same, which makes work more enjoyable.'

City Building Training College works towards developing competent tradespeople, using Qualifications Scotland qualifications and real-life learning to allow apprentices to gain knowledge, understanding and practical skills alongside their trade. Apprentices are allocated a business area within City Building to work in which could include repairs and maintenance of social housing, works on public and iconic builds across the city, new build construction sites, or schools, nurseries and sheltered homes.

City Building recruits from some of the most deprived areas of Glasgow, with many young people experiencing homelessness, addictions, poor educational experiences and a general lack of confidence. Gaining a place on the programme boosts morale and helps young people begin to believe in themselves. From there, the benefits are vast, as apprentices develop practical and professional skills that can be used in their personal lives as well as their careers

For Demi, the apprenticeship has not been without its challenges. 'I started my apprenticeship and quickly realised that I had an issue with my knee, in that it kept dislocating when I was bending it to carry out tasks,' she said. 'It resulted in a lot of absence and, eventually, surgery.'

With the right support in place, Demi was able to get back on track. 'City Building were supportive and arranged a timetable for me, to catch up with everything I had missed,' she said. 'I am now up to date and just about to enter my fourth and final year. The time has flown by and I'm getting ready to complete my skills test, which will determine whether I am competent to become a tradesperson.'

City Building has a culture of growing its own talent, with most managers having started off as an apprentice. Apprentices progress through advanced craft and specialist trade courses, getting them ready for tradesperson status. From there, they are welcome to apply for City Building's further education programmes, where they can enrol on higher level trade specific training, Higher National Certificates, or various other pathways.