The efforts of young people across the North Highlands were celebrated recently at the Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) North Highland Awards and the Caithness Chamber of Commerce Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award.
This year’s DYW North Highland awards saw three apprentices from across the region recognised for their contributions.
Emma Gunn, a fourth-year apprentice with Nuvia Ltd, was recognised not only for her excellent work with the company – including an instrumental role in winning work as part of a competitive tender exercise – but for her tireless efforts as a local STEM ambassador, which included organising and promoting a “Discover Engineering” event in partnership with North Highland College UHI and local engineering companies.
Nuvia Ltd were also recognised both locally and at the Highland Business Awards 2019 for their efforts to integrate young people into their business. Judges were particularly impressed with their induction programme, which not only recognises and accounts for the often difficult change from an educational environment to a work one, but which actively involves the apprentices’ families in the process.
Rachel Miller, who is undertaking a two-year apprenticeship with Identity Hair Salon in Golspie, was also recognised for her hard work and rapid advancement. In addition to her duties within the salon and her work towards her NVQ Level 2 Hairdressing, she has already achieved an advanced qualification in Future Foundation Cutting at the nationally renowned Toni & Guy Academy.
The final apprenticeship award went to Emma Gunn, a fourth-year Engineering Design Apprentice with Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd. Over the course of her four years Emma has completed an HND in Engineering Systems and is working towards a BEng in Electrical and Electronic Engineering. She is an active STEM ambassador and has attended numerous events across the UK to represent Dounreay.
The efforts of Iona McLachlan were also recognised when she was selected as the winner of this year’s Caithness Chamber of Commerce Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Aged just 19, Iona has this year set up and grown her own business, North Coast Watersports, offering surf coaching lessons to both locals and tourists.
With support from the Chamber and the Caithness Business Fund, Iona and her partner Finn – both world-class surfers – were able to take the business from idea to reality in just a few short months, and it has already proven a hit. Never content to rest for long, Iona already has major plans for expansion of the business.
The coming years will bring many new challenges and opportunities for the business community of the North Highlands, but with this level of drive and enthusiasm on display, the next generation is sure to rise to the occasion.
