Different routes, shared ambition: How apprenticeships help build future careers

Learning does not stop when you leave school or college. For many people, it is only the beginning. 

As part of SCQF Week 2026, we're celebrating the many pathways that help people develop skills, gain recognised qualifications and build rewarding careers. The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) helps learners understand how different qualifications and learning experiences can support their progression, recognising that there is no single route to success. 

Apprenticeships are an important part of that landscape. By combining recognised qualifications with practical workplace experience, apprentices develop the technical knowledge, skills and behaviours needed to build long-term careers while making meaningful contributions in the workplace from day one. 

APTUS is OPITO's modern apprenticeship programme, delivered in partnership with the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) and employers across industry. For more than 25 years, the programme has supported the development of skilled professionals by combining nationally recognised qualifications with hands-on workplace experience, helping apprentices build the knowledge, skills and confidence needed for long-term careers.

To mark SCQF Week, we spoke to current APTUS apprentices about their experiences so far. Their insights highlight how workplace learning can help people build confidence, develop new skills and gain valuable industry experience, while reinforcing that learning continues long after school and college. 

While every apprentice's journey is different, a shared ambition connects them all: developing the skills and experience needed to build a successful future in the energy industry. 

Choosing an apprenticeship 

APTUS apprentices come from a wide range of backgrounds and have chosen the apprenticeship route for different reasons. 

For some, it offered a more practical alternative to traditional education. Others were attracted by the opportunity to earn while learning, gain industry-recognised qualifications and build real-world experience from the outset. 

For Ryan Stones, working in a hands-on environment was a natural fit. "I've always been someone who learns best by getting stuck in, working with my hands and seeing the results of what I'm doing."  

Similarly, Lucas Rose was drawn to the opportunity to gain practical experience alongside classroom learning, believing that applying knowledge in real situations would strengthen his understanding. The added benefit of earning a wage while gaining qualifications and industry exposure made the decision even easier.  

For Chris Kelly, the decision represented a significant career change. Inspired by a friend who had successfully completed an apprenticeship, he chose to pursue a new path into the energy sector and has not looked back since. 

Their experiences demonstrate one of the key messages behind SCQF Week: there are many valuable pathways into skilled careers, and different routes can lead to the same destination. 

Learning through experience 

One theme emerged consistently from every apprentice we spoke to: there is no substitute for learning in a real working environment. 

While classroom learning provides essential theory and understanding, workplace experience brings that knowledge to life. 

Apprentices highlighted the value of working alongside experienced industry professionals, learning from mentors and applying skills in real situations. 

Chris was particularly impressed by being taught by former oil and gas professionals with first-hand operational experience and having access to industry-relevant systems during training.  

For Ryan, one of the biggest surprises was how quickly he was trusted to become involved in practical work. "I expected to spend a lot of my apprenticeship watching and learning from the sidelines, but I've been given so much hands-on experience."  

Several apprentices also spoke about the unpredictability of workplace learning. No two days are the same, providing continuous opportunities to solve problems, ask questions and develop new skills. 

This ability to learn through real-world experience is often what sets apprenticeships apart. Apprentices not only learn how things work in theory, but also gain an understanding of how they operate in practice, preparing them for the challenges and opportunities they will encounter throughout their careers. 

Developing technical and transferable skills 

The apprentices we spoke to highlighted a wide variety of skills they have developed since joining APTUS. 

For some, this has included building specialist technical knowledge in areas such as instrumentation, process systems, maintenance and electrical principles. Others discussed developing practical competencies in safety systems, fault finding, equipment testing and engineering operations.  

However, apprenticeships are about far more than technical capability. 

Many apprentices highlighted the transferable skills they have gained, including communication, teamwork, problem solving, time management, resilience and adaptability. 

Lucas spoke about how working with people from different backgrounds and levels of experience has strengthened both his problem-solving and social skills.  

Likewise, Harry Bennett highlighted how balancing workplace responsibilities with coursework requirements has helped him develop strong organisational and time-management skills alongside his technical training. 

These experiences highlight how apprenticeships support the development of both technical expertise and the wider professional skills that employers value across the energy sector. 

Growing in confidence 

An apprenticeship is not only a journey of professional development. It can also be a powerful catalyst for personal growth. 

Many apprentices reflected on how much their confidence has increased since joining the programme. 

Moving away from home, adapting to new environments, building relationships with colleagues and taking responsibility for real work tasks have all helped apprentices grow in confidence and independence. 

Jacob Hall explained that regularly dealing with different people, situations and challenges has helped strengthen his self-belief and confidence. 

Similarly, Ryan described how studying away from home pushed him outside his comfort zone and helped him develop important life skills alongside his professional development. 

For others, growing confidence has come through developing specialist knowledge and becoming comfortable contributing to workplace discussions, safety meetings and operational activities.  

These experiences reinforce another key message of SCQF Week: learning is not only about gaining qualifications. It is also about developing the confidence, capability and skills to succeed throughout life and work. 

Advice for future apprentices 

When asked what advice they would give to someone considering an apprenticeship, the response was overwhelmingly positive. 

Apprentices encouraged others to explore the opportunities available, speak to people working in their chosen industry and challenge themselves to step outside their comfort zone. 

Several highlighted the benefits of earning while learning, gaining recognised qualifications and building industry experience at the same time. Others emphasised the value of practical learning and the opportunities apprenticeships can create both professionally and personally. 

For many, choosing an apprenticeship has been one of the most rewarding decisions they have made. 

Learning for life 

The experiences shared by APTUS apprentices demonstrate that learning does not end when formal education finishes. Instead, it continues throughout our lives, taking many different forms and opening new opportunities along the way. 

As we celebrate SCQF Week 2026, their stories showcase how apprenticeships combine recognised learning with practical workplace experience to help individuals develop technical expertise, transferable skills and the confidence to succeed. 

Every apprentice featured here has followed a different route, but their experiences demonstrate a shared ambition to learn, grow and build a rewarding career. 

There is no single pathway into the energy industry. Apprenticeships are just one of many recognised routes available, but for these apprentices, they have provided the opportunity to gain qualifications, develop valuable skills and build strong foundations for the future. 

And that is exactly what lifelong learning is about.