Staff profile: Meet the team driving apprenticeship success

The Business Solutions team at UHI Inverness has played a central role in expanding its apprenticeship training programme since its creation in 2016.

The team’s impact in connecting talent with opportunity was recognised in November when it won the Training Provider of the Year at the Highlands and Islands Apprenticeship Awards. 

The award is testament to the strong partnerships the team has built with employers across the region.

The team is headed by manager Joanne MacKinnon and consists of team lead construction Pauline Tuthill, advisors Nicole Varwell and Pippa Le Fevre, short course co-ordinator Cheryl Taranto and five customer service coordinators - Hazel Gilbertson, Erin Ferguson, David Tanner, Sam MacKay and Isabel Tanner. 

It partners with more than 300 employers and supports more than 1,000 modern and graduate apprentices through their learning journeys.

The team specialises in working closely with employers of all sizes to understand their goals, challenges and future workforce needs by providing:

• Tailored recruitment support to help you attract the right apprentice for your business 
• Guidance on funding, ensuring you make the most of available support
• Help designing apprenticeship roles that align with industry standards and your operational needs
• Ongoing partnership and check-ins to ensure apprentices are progressing and adding value
• Upskilling pathways for existing staff who want to grow through apprenticeship programmes. 

Whether you’re hiring your first apprentice or expanding a long standing programme it makes the process smooth, efficient and aligned with your business strategy. 

Joanne said:

“By working closely with employers and apprentices at scale, we’re helping to shape a stronger, more skilled workforce for the region. Whether you’re looking to recruit, upskill or begin your own apprenticeship journey, we’re here to help you take the next step.”

To find out more about apprenticeship contact the team on modern.apps.ic@uhi.ac.uk or visit Business - UHI Inverness