UHI Inverness honours apprentices and students at first Social Services Celebration of Success
Apprentices and students who have completed their SVQ2 Social Services qualifications were celebrated at a special evening prizegiving and reception at the UHI Inverness campus.
The Social Services team held its first Celebration of Success on Wednesday, 4 June to recognise the dedication of the students who completed their SVQ Social Services (Children and Young People) and SVQ Health and Social Care qualifications over the past year.
Completing students and apprentices, their guests, local employers and staff attended the heart-warming graduation event that marked a significant milestone in the professional journeys of these dedicated learners.
Some of the students took the opportunity to speak in moving terms about the positive impact the support they had received from UHI Inverness staff had made to their lives.
Approximately 60 learners completed their work-based SVQ training in Social Services during this academic year. They are based across the north of Scotland and studied fully online while working across a range of care environments, from early years settings to adult services.
The SVQ programmes develop the practical skills, ethical understanding and professional confidence required to deliver compassionate, person-centred care. These awards are designed to meet the evolving needs of the care sector, ensuring that practitioners are equipped to support children, young people, adults and the elderly with the dignity and expertise they deserve.
UHI Inverness Principal and Chief Executive, Professor Chris O’Neil, welcomed the guests and congratulated the students, telling them they represented the future of our local social care sector.
He said: “Your qualifications are not just personal achievements, but vital investments in the health, wellbeing, and development of people in our communities. At UHI Inverness we recognise the commitment, empathy and resilience it takes to work in Social Services. These roles require not only technical knowledge, but also emotional intelligence and a deep sense of responsibility. You have all demonstrated these qualities throughout your training and practice.”
UHI Inverness works in partnership with hundreds of employers as part of its strategic shift towards work-based learning across all curriculum areas to meet economic and sector demands.
Julie Jones, Depute Curriculum Lead for Childcare and Social Services work-based learning, organised the event, alongside her colleagues, to ensure the hard work and achievements of these students were highlighted and celebrated.
She said: “As Scotland faces increasing demands on its social services workforce, the contribution of newly-qualified practitioners is more important than ever. Graduates of the SVQ programmes are stepping into roles which support the rights and develop independence of individuals within a wide variety of care settings across Scotland.
“This celebration not only marks the end of their SVQ training but the next chapter in a career dedicated to making a meaningful difference in people’s lives. Their achievements help ensure a stronger, more resilient social services system for everyone.”