At BEAR Scotland, we’re committed to nurturing future talent in civil engineering and related fields. We actively engage with schools, colleges and universities across Scotland to highlight opportunities and inspire the next generation to pursue careers within the industry, and potentially with us at BEAR Scotland.
By engaging with young people, we hope to spark their curiosity and show them that a career in engineering is both rewarding and impactful. We’re proud to support the next generation of engineers and will continue working with schools, colleges, and universities, doing our bit to ensure that Scotland’s roads are in safe hands.
Our teams in the North West and South East of Scotland work with schools to deliver interactive workshops that showcase the diverse range of roles within civil engineering, helping students understand how their classroom learning can be applied in real life to shape the world around them.
We do this in a variety of formats. We visit schools, host learners at the Contact and Education Centre in Queensferry and work with DYW (Developing the Young Workforce) to deliver virtual school sessions.
In the North West, we engaged 50 primary and 98 secondary school pupils, through a combination of 2 in-person workshops and 3 virtual sessions.
Meanwhile, in the South East, we reached 1,409 primary and 332 secondary school pupils, by delivering 26 in-person workshops and 13 virtual sessions.
Across both units, a combined total of 1,889 pupils were supported by a mix of 28 in-person workshops and 16 virtual sessions.
Pupils from Bertha Park High School and Perth Academy were among those who provided excellent feedback on their experience, describing their visit to the Education Centre as “tremendous”. During these sessions, learners took part in a STEM workshop hosted by Education Manager, Elaine Barrie, highlighting the impact and value of these interactive learning opportunities.
Through January, February and March, we have continued to strengthen our involvement with the CECA Scotland Academy, supporting the development of future talent across the civil engineering sector.
The CECA Scotland Academy, established by the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) Scotland in 2024, aims to address the growing skills gap within the civil engineering construction operations sector. The CECA Academy works with colleges to provide practical, hands-on training to develop the next generation of skilled operatives and future industry professionals.
Four students from the programme were successfully recruited as Apprentice Roadworkers, commencing roles in Kingussie, Corpach and Perth between February and March 2026.
Engagement with the latest cohort remained a priority, with North West Operations Managers, William MacDougall and Alan Anderson, alongside local operations supervisors Duncan Crilley and Karen Buchan, visiting UHI Inverness, UHI North, West and Hebrides, and Dundee and Angus College to connect with students undertaking the CECA Academy course. William MacDougall also met directly with representatives from UHI Inverness and BEAR Scotland apprentices who joined via the CECA Academy and are now progressing through their SVQ in Construction and Civil Engineering Operations. BEAR Scotland representatives also attended a graduation event at Fife College, recognising the achievements of students and celebrating their progression.
In addition, BEAR Scotland representatives participated in a Transport Scotland skills workshop alongside industry partners including Amey, CECA and ICE, highlighting continued collaboration to address skills development and workforce challenges across the sector.
Graduate Apprentices Rheagan Swan and Kai Callaghan from the SE Planned Maintenance Team attended Stirling Council’s Apprenticeship Event to inform young people about apprenticeship pathways and career options offered at BEAR. The event included a marketplace area, skills workshop, and practical sessions. Our team hosted a stall and provided information on BEAR’s apprenticeships, working practices, and progression routes.
The theme for Scottish Apprenticeship Week 2026 (2 – 6 March) was “Working for Scotland”. The week shone a spotlight on the power of apprenticeships to create careers, build businesses, grow the workforce and get real returns for the economy.
To mark the week, BEAR Scotland shared a series of posts on LinkedIn and X. Content included a video message from South East Contract Director, Jamie Finlayson, on why BEAR values apprenticeships, photo quote profiles of three apprentices explaining why they chose this path, and three videos sharing the experiences of a current apprentice and two former apprentices who have progressed within the company.
UHI Inverness hosted a STEM Careers Fair at the Inverness College campus on 11 March, providing an opportunity to engage with students considering a career in engineering. BEAR Scotland was represented by Graduate Engineer Duncan MacKnight and Trainee Bridge Technician Morven Thompson from the North West Major Bridges Team, as well as North West Environmental Advisor Shanan Davis, who promoted career pathways and shared insights into working within the organisation.
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