Thurso High School student Gordon Malcolm completed the Construction Skills Intermediate 1 Skills For Work course, and is now living life as an apprentice joiner with Alistair Budge.

"I enjoyed doing the range of trades – joinery, brick laying, electrical work, plumbing, and painting. I think I liked the joinery best, and feel the Skills For Work course gave me new skills that prepared me well for the world of work."

"I am now in the first year of a four year apprenticeship. Currently I am taking part in a four week block release course at The North Highland College in Thurso. Wages are not that high but they do go up each year. We are currently doing a lot of work on kit houses including roof trusses, internal stud partitions, fitting windows, laying floors, and fixing up door facings and wall skirtings."

Gordon's lecturer said, "Gordon attended the Skills For Work course very well and worked really hard. He was interested in learning about all of the different trades, and used his experience on the course to make a career decision. As his Skills For Work tutor, it is great to see Gordon back at college, enjoying the course again and doing well at his chosen trade."

Gordon Malcolm's photos ...