Aberdeen-based Escone Solutions continues to pave the way for the next generation of Business Application Support Analysts as it welcomes its fourth apprentice in as many years.
The company, which provides business application support to clients across a range of sectors, is committed to helping young people from across the North-east starting on their career journey.
Set up in 2015 by Mike Charles and Kevin Wyness, Escone Solutions Ltd worked previously with QA Ltd and now Rewards Training, an established training provider specialising in Modern Apprenticeships to offer young people the opportunity to learn and gain practical experience while working with an employer.
Former Meldrum Academy pupil Kayla Ingram (17) is the latest young person to join Escone Solutions, starting with the company in February. Working with the team has already given her valuable experience.
“The Escone team have made a massive effort to make me feel welcome. They include me in projects to develop my knowledge, are always willing to help when I need it, and offer me a lot of support,” said the Apprentice Support Analyst.
“Already the experience has boosted my social skills, such as talking to people via email, over the phone and with those in my office, as well as helped me develop my independence by allowing me to work individually. I can see myself staying at Escone well into the future.”
Business Applications Consultant Sam Michie (23) joined Escone in 2019 after leaving the Robert Gordon University. The former Portlethen Academy pupil was looking for a ‘real world’ experience and decided that university was not for her.
She said: “The apprenticeship is what you make it – for me it was exactly what I needed and allowed me to start my career. Since then, I have gone from strength to strength and the longer I’ve been working with the team, the more confident I have become.
“The team have been a great support – Kevin, Mike, and Alice are all great mentors that I work closely with, and I love that each of them inspires all of us and push us to continuously strive for more. They are great advocates for continually growing and developing whether that be in a personal or professional sense. I can’t thank them enough for the opportunities and the continuous support over the years.”
Jodie Donald (21), another former pupil of Meldrum Academy, also joined Escone in February 2019. She too is a Business Applications Consultant.
“I left in the middle of the school year to join Escone, just before sitting my prelims for my Highers. I did enjoy school but, as time went on, I knew I didn’t want to do another four years at university. However, I still wanted to gain a qualification, so I felt an apprenticeship allowed me the freedom to learn and work at the same time.
“I have met new people, both through my work and the various courses I completed during my apprenticeship. The skills I have learned are transferable, allowing me to switch to different aspects of the business and explore all it has to offer.
“Everyone in the team has always made me feel valued and supported and even now, after I have finished the apprenticeship, the learning hasn’t stopped. I have since completed an ITIL Foundation 4 and ITIL Direct Plan and Improve course to help me develop even further. I never imagined when I started at Escone I would have achieved all I have.”
Leon Mackenzie (20) took a different route into the apprenticeship. A former Mearns Academy pupil, Leon studied at NESCOL in Aberdeen before joining Escone, where he is now a Business Applications Support Analyst working on the Escone Assist Helpdesk.
“I left College because I wanted to do something completely new and different,” said Leon.
“The apprenticeship gave me a newfound confidence and experience within an office environment. Escone has supported me throughout, by showing me the best routes to take when supporting users and increased my knowledge regarding the applications we support.”
Escone Director and Co-founder Kevin said that from day one he and Mike were passionate about bringing through the next generation of young people.
“When we started the company in 2015, it was always our aim to offer apprenticeships in order to grow a young team who will learn all about the company from the bottom up,” he said.
“As well as learning from their colleagues, the apprentices themselves bring a great deal to the business – they add a different perspective and outlook, and Jodie, Leon, Kayla, and Sam have all shown a desire and determination to progress their knowledge and careers.
“They have proven themselves to be hard-working, willing to learn and committed to Escone. We are very proud of all they have achieved and hope to have them with us for a long time to come.”
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