Scottish Apprenticeship Week: Creag Dhubh Energy Networks apprentices take on greater responsibility
BAM is marking Scottish Apprenticeship Week 2026 by highlighting the progress of two apprentices working on the Creag Dhubh Substation project and reflecting on how their roles have developed over the past year.
Civil engineering apprentice Roy Garvie and quantity surveying apprentice Kai Hunter are now in Year 2 of their apprenticeship programmes. Both work full-time on site at Creag Dhubh Substation while studying for their degrees at the University of the Highlands and Islands.
When their stories were first shared during Scottish Apprenticeship Week in 2025, they were beginning to establish themselves within the project team. Twelve months later, both are taking on greater responsibility in their roles.
For Roy, the biggest change has been taking ownership of defined packages of civil engineering work. He now progresses elements of construction from drawing issue through to delivery and quality sign-off. His role includes setting out works, coordinating with site teams and ensuring compliance procedures are followed.
“You’re trusted to take control of your own section of work,” Roy says. “There’s support there if you need it, but it’s your responsibility to make sure it’s delivered properly.”
The step up has required a stronger understanding of how engineering decisions affect sequencing, programme and quality across the project.
“You start to see the full picture,” he adds. “It’s not just about setting something out. It’s about how that work fits into everything else happening on site.”
For Kai, progress has come through greater involvement in the commercial cycle. He now contributes to month-end reporting, cost preparation and payment processes, gaining practical experience of how commercial management supports delivery on site.
“You start to understand the pressure around reporting periods,” he says. “There’s a structure to it. You prepare, you report and you process payments. It all links together.”
Alongside their work on site, both apprentices continue their studies with the University of the Highlands and Islands, developing the technical and professional knowledge that supports their work on live infrastructure projects.
Across BAM, Early Careers programmes provide routes into the industry across construction, engineering, commercial and digital disciplines. Apprenticeships combine practical experience on live projects with academic learning.
Applications for BAM’s Scottish apprenticeships are open through the Early Careers programme. Click here to find out more.
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