Graduates recruited in the Outer Hebrides through HIE-funded programme

The Graduate Support Programme helps companies in the region by offering 12-month, well paid work experience placements in key sectors that span a wide variety of industries.

The programme supports organisations to drive innovation and recovery following the pandemic and gives graduates much-needed experience to advance their careers.

Alison Campbell Clark, originally from Oban, studied Gaelic language and culture at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig. After graduating, she was employed as a Gaelic development officer in Glasgow for Comunn na Gàidhlig. 

Thanks to the Graduate Placement Programme, Alison has relocated to Lewis, where her mother is from, to take on the role of business development officer at Astar Media.

Astar is a Stornoway-based business working to deliver projects across the Gaelic sector, including consultations, events, communications support as well as running the successful FilmG short film competition on behalf of the Gaelic media organisation MG ALBA. 

Alison said: “The Graduate Placement Programme has provided me with many new opportunities, both personally and professionally. Without this programme, I wouldn't have been able to move home to Lewis or had the chance to join the Astar team. Since starting with Astar, I have explored new aspects of my professional development, and I'm loving life both in Lewis and at Astar.” 

Andrew Campbell graduated in media studies from Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen and is now living back in Stornoway.

In his role as a graduate marketing coordinator at An Lanntair, his duties will include the planning and coordination of marketing duties in the arts centre including writing and producing digital content.

Sharath Chedalu comes from a town called Hyderabad in India. His studies started in New Dehli, where he studied Engineering, then to London, where he successfully completed a MSc in construction management. Shortly after graduating, Sharath moved to the Outer Hebrides in pursuit of some work experience to compliment his academic studies.

He is now employed by Lewis Builders as a trainee civil engineering technician and is currently working between their office and construction site on the West Side of the Isle of Lewis.

Sharath is getting an opportunity to put into practice the academics and is dealing with setting out from co-ordinates, levelling on site, dealing with health and safety, dealing with sub-contractors – all in all, a really hands on construction experience.

Eriskay-born and raised, Kathryn MacInnes, returned home to the island at the start of the pandemic after living in Glasgow.

With an interest in Eriskay's heritage, she volunteers with Comann Each nan Eilean (The Eriskay Pony Society) and joined Comann Eachdraidh Eirisgeidh through the graduate programme in 2022. In her role, she helps with the Ionad Eilean na h-Òige project – a project to redevelopment the old school on the island. 

Kathryn will be involved in all aspects of bringing this community led development to fruition, creating a community hub where residents and visitors to the island can socialise while learning about the area’s rich heritage and culture.

Mary Holmes moved to Uist in early 2023 to work in Benbecula with Studio Vans as a Designer and Maker. Mary is an interdisciplinary artist and designer who has recently graduated from the University of Cambridge with an undergraduate degree in architecture. Supporting the studio’s growth, she is closely engaged with the development, refinement and fabrication of Studio Vans’ modular campervan conversions for mobile, low-carbon and low-impact travel.

The previous graduate programme delivered by HIE that ran throughout 2021-22 saw ten graduates out of 14 retained by their employers at the end of their placements.

Joanna Peteranna, area manager for the Outer Hebrides area team, said: “This popular graduate programme is such an excellent initiative and offers financial support to help employers to bring in enthusiastic and skilled graduates keen to implement their learning in the workplace. It is encouraging to see the graduates become part of our communities and use their learning to grow their skills in developing specific projects, which will help our communities to thrive.”

The scheme is now closed for applications. Positions were available to all graduates that finished their studies in the last four years and there was no age restriction.

Other businesses that have recruited graduates through this round of the Graduate Support programme in the Outer Hebrides are Sandwick Bay Candles, Lewis Builders, Steinish Marine and Kenman Holdings Limited.

Ceumnaichean gam fastadh ann an Innse Gall

Tha ochdnar cheumnaichean air am fastadh gu Innse Gall sna beagan mhìosan mu dheireadh, tron dàrna cuairt de phrògram a tha maoinichte agus air a lìbhrigeadh le Iomairt na Gàidhealtachd ’s nan Eilean (HIE).

Tha Prògram Taic Cheumnaichean a’ cuideachadh chompanaidhean san sgìre le bhith a’ tabhann shuidheachaidhean greis gnìomhachais air an deagh phàigheadh airson 12 mìos, ann am prìomh roinnean a tha a’ còmhdach measgachadh farsaing de ghnìomhachasan.    

Tha am prògram a’ cur taic ri buidhnean gus ùr-ghnàthachadh agus ath-shlànachadh a stiùireadh às dèidh a’ ghalair-sgaoilte agus aig an aon àm a’ toirt eòlas air a bheil mòran feum do cheumnaichean gus an dreuchdan beatha adhartachadh.  

Bha Alison Chaimbeul Clark a tha às an Òban bho thùs, a’ sgrùdadh cànan is cultar Gàidhlig aig Sabhal Mòr Ostaig.  An dèidh dhi ceumnachadh, fhuair i cosnadh mar oifigear leasachaidh Gàidhlig aig Comunn na Gàidhlig ann an Glaschu. 

Mar thoradh air a’ Phrògram Taic Cheumnaichean, tha Alison air imrich a dhèanamh a Leòdhas às a bheil a màthair, airson dreuchd a ghabhail mar oifigear leasachaidh gnothachais aig Astar Media.

Tha Astar Media mar ghnothachas stèidhichte ann an Steòrnabhagh a tha ag obair gus pròiseactan a lìbhrigeadh tarsainn roinn na Gàidhlig, a’ gabhail a-steach co-chomhairlean, tachartasan agus taic chonaltraidhean a thuilleadh air a bhith a’ ruith na farpais shoirbheachail fhilmichean goirid FilmG, às leth buidheann nam meadhanan Gàidhlig, MG ALBA. 

Thuirt Alison: “Tha am Prògram Taic Cheumnaichean air mòran chothroman ùra a thoirt dhòmhsa, an dà chuid gu pearsanta agus gu proifeiseanta. Às aonais a’ phrògraim seo, cha robh e air a bhith comasach dhomh mo dhachaigh a ghluasad a Leòdhas no cothrom fhaotainn air a bhith nam phàirt de sgioba Astar. On a thòisich mi aig Astar, tha mi air taobhan ùra de mo leasachadh proifeiseanta a rannsachadh, agus tha mi cho toilichte le mo bheatha ann an Leòdhas agus aig Astar.” 

Cheumnaich Anndra Caimbeul ann an eòlas mheadhanan bho Oilthigh Robert Gordon ann an Obar Dheathain agus tha e a-nis air ais a’ fuireach ann an Steòrnabhagh.

Na dhreuchd mar cho-òrdanaiche ceuma margaideachd aig An Lanntair, bidh a ghnìomhan-obrach a’ gabhail a-steach planadh agus co-òrdanachadh dhleastanasan margaideachd san ionad ealain, còmhla ri susbaint dhidseatach a sgrìobhadh agus a riochdachadh.

Thill Kathryn NicAonghais a rugadh ’s a thogadh ann an Èirisgeigh, dhachaigh chun an eilein aig toiseach a’ ghalair-sgaoilte an dèidh a bhith a’ còmhnaidh ann an Glaschu.

Le ùidh ann an dualchas Èirisgeigh, tha i ag obair gu saor-thoileach le Comann Each nan Eilean (The Eriskay Pony Society) agus thàinig i gu Comann Eachdraidh Èirisgeigh tron phrògram ceuma ann an 2022.  Na dreuchd, tha i a’ cuideachadh le pròiseact Ionad Eilean na h-Òige – pròiseact a tha an sàs ann an ath-leasachadh na seann sgoile air an eilean.  

Bidh Kathryn an sàs anns gach taobh de bhith a’ tarraing an leasachaidh seo fo stiùir na coimhearsnachd gu buil, a’ cruthachadh ionad coimhearsnachd far am faod luchd-còmhnaidh agus luchd-tadhail measgachadh gu sòisealta agus iad aig an aon àm ag ionnsachadh mu chultar agus dualchas saidhbhir na sgìre.  

Ghluais Màiri Holmes a dh’Uibhist tràth ann an 2023 airson obair ann am Beinn na Faoghla le Studio Vans mar Dhealbhadair is Dèanadair. Is e neach-ealain agus dealbhadair eadar-chuspaireil a th’ ann am Màiri, a cheumnaich o chionn ghoirid bho Oilthigh Chambridge le fo-cheum ann an ailtireachd.  A’ cur taic ri fàs an stiuidio, tha i gu dlùth an sàs anns an leasachadh, grinneachadh agus gnìomhadh atharrachaidhean air bhanaichean campachaidh mòidealach Studio Vans airson siubhal aig am bi buaidh ìosal le càrbon ìosal.

Thuirt Joanna Peteranna, manaidsear sgioba sgìreil Innse Gall: “Tha am prògram ceuma seo air a bheil mòr-mheas na iomairt a tha sàr-mhath agus tha e a’ tairgsinn taic ionmhasail gus luchd-fastaidh a chuideachadh le ceumnaichean dìoghrasach agus sgileil a thàladh, a tha measail air an cuid ionnsachaidh a chur an gnìomh san àite-obrach. Tha e misneachail a bhith a’ faicinn nan ceumnaichean a’ tighinn gu bhith nam pàirt de ar coimhearsnachdan agus a’ cleachdadh an ionnsachaidh gus an sgilean fhàs ann an leasachadh phròiseactan sònraichte, a chuidicheas ar coimhearsnachdan gu bhith soirbheachail.” 

Tha an sgeama a-nise dùinte do thagraidhean. Bha dreuchdan rim faotainn leis na ceumnaichean uile a chrìochnaich an sgrùdaidhean ionnsachaidh sna ceithir bliadhna mu dheireadh agus cha robh bacadh air aois.

Am measg ghnothachasan eile a tha air ceumnaichean a thrusadh tron chuairt seo den Phrògram Taic Cheumnaichean ann an Innse Gall, tha Sandwick Bay Candles, Lewis Builders, Steinish Marine agus Kenman Holdings Earranta.