VWS, one of Scotland’s most innovative technology-based security companies, has hired five new trainees as Modern Apprentices. The five will work full-time in the high-tech company and will attend New College Lanarkshire, formerly Motherwell College, once a week as part of their day-release study.

VWS – which was recently awarded a six figure contract by Aberdeen City Council to provide an Internet Protocol (IP) enabled, networked CCTV system to monitor traffic throughout the city – is a long-time supporter of the Modern Apprenticeship scheme, having previously taken six apprentices through its training programme; with all six still in the business.

The five apprentices eager to join the company will be based in the engineering and administration departments; four in in the Cumbernauld headquarters, one developing his engineering proficiency in Dundee.

Jonathon Holland, 16, (pictured below) from Lennoxtown, will be apprenticed to the engineering department at Cumbernauld, but will be learning on the road, installing and maintaining high-end CCTV systems.

Joining him will be Kieran Ballantyne, 20, an apprentice engineer (pictured below) from Dumbarton. After going to sea with the Merchant Navy as a Health and Safety petty officer, he’s glad to be back on land with a steadier life.

The final Cumbernauld engineering apprentice is 20 year old Kyle Gallagher (pictured below) from East Kilbride. He cut his teeth in call centres, and was a Ford and Arnold Clark apprentice before taking a pay cut for the chance to get in on the ground floor of VWS’ cutting edge apprenticeship system.

Jack McGinlay, 18, (pictured below) from Moodiesburn, will be apprenticing on the administration side. He found his way to VWS Ltd via U-Train, a vocational training organisation.

At the Dundee branch is native son, 17 year old Ross Lang, who has already completed a pre-apprenticeship course at a local college before successfully applying for a place with VWS.

Graham Wilson, managing director of VWS Ltd, said: “I like to think that the best thing we can teach these young apprentices is an unwavering commitment to quality. People rely on our systems, and I get a real pride from seeing the apprentices pick up the VWS attitude.”

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A version of this story appeared in the November / December issue of Scottish Business Insider magazine.