SELECT, the campaigning trade body which represents the electro-technical sector in Scotland, is taking two Penicuik, Midlothian schoolgirls through a four week internship with the help of leading charity, Career Ready.
Charlotte Hickey, 16, who attends Beeslack High School and Catherine Watret, also 16, a student at Penicuik High School were selected after expressing an interest in taking up the opportunity to learn more about the electrical trade through their schools, then by completing questionnaires to find the best fit for their interests.
Nicola Jengaenga, Employment Affairs Advisor at SELECT, said: “Charlotte and Catherine have done really well and have blossomed in their time here. They work well as a team and we’ve been learning from them – on things like social media – as they’ve learned from us.
“We believed that a four week paid internship would offer more than the usual week’s work experience. It provides more structured learning, while two fresh faces, new ideas, and a stronger connection with the communities we serve also aids SELECT.”
Catherine and Charlotte are currently halfway through the four week course and have rotated through different departments of SELECT, including reception – where they staffed the desk themselves for a busy Friday morning, Membership and Communications, and the organisation’s Member Benefit’s departments.
At the end of each day, the pair have half an hour ‘reflective time’ in which to record what they have learned during the day, setting up a framework of interview examples, skills acquired, and demonstrable experience.
They have also been put in charge of overhauling the induction presentation which will be seen by every prospective member of SELECT. They then presented their work to a number of SELECT’s staff. (Pictured).
Both are being paid for the duration of their placement and, having undergone an interview process at the beginning of the placement, will undergo a second interview at the end of the course to demonstrate, how much experience they have gained.
SELECT, whose members account for over 90% of all electrical installation work carried out in Scotland, is committed to repeating the internships and plans to continue working closely with Career Ready.
