Lynsey leads the way for Scottish Apprenticeship Week

As council employees it’s great to see new  people join the organisation and grow in confidence, learning as they go and adding vitality and new ideas as part of the teams they work in.

One such star is Lynsey Garrick, who has  become a valued member of staff as receptionist in the Ingram Enterprise Centre, Kilmarnock, where she meets, greets and helps customers and visitors to the centre and Business Gateway as well as assisting the Business Gateway team, dealing with phonecalls, enquiries and generally providing a cheerful and efficient first point of contact for anyone visiting the John Finnie Street building.  

Lynsey Garrick started her Modern Apprenticeship with East Ayrshire Council Business Gateway Service in June 2018. A former pupil of Grange Academy School, Lynsey has Cerebral Palsy which restricts her movement. She is also partially sighted but she has never let this hold her back.  Her assessor commented: “Lynsey is one of the best Modern Apprentices I have worked with, not only for overcoming her disabilities but also for her determination to succeed in anything she does. She has a great sense of humour and is always positive.

In turn, Lynsey says: “The support I got from my assessor while working on my Apprenticeship has been great.  My department carried out a workstation assessment and supplied a large screen monitor and keyboard to help me with my work. The units I chose fitted perfectly into my work and my assessor was a great help to me through my qualification and fully supported me to achieve my goals”

A champion ten pin bowler, Lynsey is a member of the Scottish Triple Crown Ten Pin Bowling team and is very proud of being selected to play for her country. She is also going through training to get a guide dog to help her, a two year old Labrador/ Golden Retriever cross which will broaden her horizons and is sure to be a hit with visitors to the Ingram Enterprise Centre.

Working through her Modern Apprenticeship has given her a confidence which clearly enhances her whole life. She says: “Doing my MA has greatly improved my confidence in areas such as communication and interpersonal skills. When I started, I was wary about answering the phones, as I did not have the confidence or belief to do so. Now I can carry out all the tasks in my job in an easy and positive manner. I’ve now completed my SVQ level 2, secured a permanent job and I’m now working towards my SVQ level 3. I’d encourage anyone to think about doing a Modern Apprenticeship.”

East Ayrshire Council’s Employability Service offers full support to employers and employees, helping with recruitment, training and mentoring to match suitable people to worthwhile jobs.  Modern Apprenticeships are available to people at all ages and stages of life, from school level with foundation level, through to Modern Apprenticeships, many of which are now open to people of any age, and Graduate Apprenticeships, open to those with Further and Higher Education qualifications who are needing to gain solid work experience.

Councillor Jim Roberts, Cabinet Member for Economy and Infrastructure said: “In Scottish Apprenticeship Week it’s great to be taking stock of what some of our Modern Apprentices are achieving, and it’s also very useful to get a reminder of exactly what our Employability Team can offer in terms of comprehensive, wrap around care for job seekers and employers alike. We’d encourage anyone looking for training, a new career, or a new employee to come and talk to our teams and find out just what we can offer. Apprenticeships are just part of the life changing service we can offer.”

Find out more:

East Ayrshire Council Employability Service

Scottish Apprenticeship Week 2020

Modern Apprenticeships in Scotland