News

Celebrating Scottish Apprentice Week 2025

Get to know some of your current Foundation and Modern Apprentices! To celebrate Scottish Apprentice Week 2025, we talked to a few of our current Foundation and Modern Apprentices and asked them to share their apprentice journeys with us. Read below what Isla, Calum and Nahom had to say about their experiences with us.

Isla - Foundation Apprentice, School of Chemistry

I’d recommend this apprentice to anyone and everyone! I owe so much of my growth to the apprenticeship; it has genuinely helped me so much in many aspects of my life.

Meet Isla, a Foundation Apprentice in the School of Chemistry. Isla completed her apprenticeship with East Lothian Council, who have also supported many other Foundation Apprentices across the University. 

For the past six months, Isla has been working on a range of areas to support teaching laboratories. For example, some of the tasks have been helping to prepare and test solutions for undergraduate chemistry experiments, standardising solutions, synthesising reagents and completing analysis by UV-vis spectroscopy. In addition, Isla also had opportunities to work on her creative side by creating posters for the labs. It was important that Isla would get as much exposure as possible, so the team introduced her to different facilities and workshops around the School.

I chose to do an apprenticeship because…

I’ve always really enjoyed the sciences so I wanted to do an apprenticeship. At the time of making the decision, there wasn’t much information available, so I wasn’t sure what it would look like in practice. I decided to just go with it and I’m so glad I did.

Something that I’m proud of is…

My growth as a person. I owe so much of my growth to this apprenticeship; it has genuinely helped me so much in many aspects of my life. It has allowed me to become much more comfortable in a work place setting as well as in the university setting.

The best thing about the apprenticeship has been…

All the amazing experiences I’ve got to have. A lot of people may not ever get the chance to experience these things.

For someone thinking of doing an apprenticeship, I would say…

I’d recommend this apprentice to anyone and everyone! Whilst it definitely isn’t always easy and you need to do a lot of work, it is so worth it. You get to have so many new experiences and meet amazing people on the way.

Calum - Digital Marketing Modern Apprentice, Communications and Marketing

The apprenticeship is a great opportunity to gain practical experience while learning on the job, making it ideal for those who want to develop real-world skills alongside structured training.

Meet Calum, a Digital Marketing Modern Apprentice in Communications and Marketing. 

I chose to do an apprenticeship because…

Following redundancy from my previous employer, I wanted to continue developing my skills and saw this opportunity as the perfect fit. The chance to work as part of a team in a supportive learning environment, along with the University’s strong reputation, made it the ideal place to bridge my past experience with new learning opportunities, strengthening my expertise and confidence in digital marketing.

My experience of the University of Edinburgh as an employer…

I have found the University to be a supportive and engaging place to work, especially as an apprentice. The workplace culture encourages learning and development, providing me with opportunities to expand my skills through hands-on experience and structured training. I appreciate the collaborative environment, where my team is always willing to offer guidance and feedback.

Something that I’m proud of is…

One of the things I am most proud of during my time here is taking the lead on a festive season social media campaign for my team. I was responsible for creating the content plan, scheduling posts, and compiling the performance report once the campaign ended. While I had support from my team to refine and improve my ideas, taking ownership of the project gave me valuable experience in planning, organisation, and analytics.

The skills I have developed since starting my apprenticeship…

The apprenticeship has strengthened my adaptability, teamwork, and problem-solving skills, all of which will be valuable as I look to continue my career in digital marketing. I have developed a range of skills in social media management, content creation, and digital marketing analytics. I’ve also contributed to multiple campaigns by writing captions, suggesting engagement strategies, scheduling content, and assisting with reporting. Beyond social media, I’ve gained experience in website content management, helping to update blogs and support site migrations. These opportunities have improved my ability to plan and analyse social media performance effectively.

For someone thinking of doing an apprenticeship, I would say…

I would definitely recommend an apprenticeship at the University of Edinburgh. It’s a great opportunity to gain practical experience while learning on the job, making it ideal for those who want to develop real-world skills alongside structured training. This is a fantastic way to start your career, build confidence and gain experience. You are given real responsibilities, the chance to contribute to meaningful projects, and plenty of opportunities to learn and develop professionally in a well-respected organisation. The University provides a supportive environment, with colleagues who are always willing to help and encourage you to grow as a person.

Nahom - IT Support Modern Apprentice, School of Mathematics

I would definitely recommend an apprenticeship here. The University offers a supportive and growth-focused environment, where you can develop professionally, even if you're uncertain about your future path.

Meet Nahom, an IT Support Modern Apprentice in the School of Mathematics. 

I chose to do an apprenticeship because…

I chose to pursue an apprenticeship at the University because of its strong reputation, which I was eager to experience first-hand. Personally, I also have a preference for practical, hands-on learning, and I believed the University would provide the ideal environment to gain valuable experience while learning from a skilled team.

My experience of the University of Edinburgh as an employer…

I think the University is an excellent employer. From day one, I’ve felt supported by my team – they are patient, approachable, and eager to help. Whether I’m troubleshooting an issue or tackling a new task, my colleagues are always ready to guide me, creating an environment where I can thrive.

Something that I’m proud of is…

One of my proudest achievements has been leading a project to replace outdated, unsupported equipment within the department. This involved coordinating with staff, managing multiple meetings, and staying on top of my daily tasks. Through effective time management, I was able to successfully complete the project while balancing my regular responsibilities.

The skills I have developed since starting my apprenticeship…

The main skill is definitely communication. Daily interactions with colleagues have boosted my confidence and ability to converse professionally. I’ve also honed my problem-solving abilities, learning to approach challenges with a critical mindset and consider multiple solutions before deciding what’s the best course of action. These skills will be essential in both my current role and future career.

For someone thinking of doing an apprenticeship, I would say…

I would definitely recommend an apprenticeship here. The University offers a supportive and growth-focused environment, where you can develop professionally, even if you're uncertain about your future path. My advice to anyone considering this opportunity is to embrace it with curiosity and ask questions – it’s a chance to learn, grow, and meet great people along the way.

You can find more information about Foundation Apprentices and Modern Apprentices here:

Foundation Apprenticeships | Human Resources

Modern Apprentices | Human Resources (for recruiting managers)

Modern Apprenticeships | Human Resources (for prospective applicants)

Meet our Modern Apprentices | Human Resources