The role and value of modern apprenticeships was recognised today (March 9) during a visit to the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) by Angus Robertson MSP, Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture during Scottish Apprenticeships Week.

The visit took place at the Garden’s heritage Palm Houses, currently being restored by construction giant Balfour Beatty as part of RBGE’s visionary Edinburgh Biomes project. Amid the celebrations, four apprentices currently working with Balfour Beatty at their sites in Scotland, shared how they had benefited from apprenticeship programmes.

On arrival, Mr Robertson was greeted by Regius Keeper Simon Milne MBE and Colin Reid, Senior Project Manager, Balfour Beatty, before being invited to tour the site and learn more about how the project was progressing.

The complex operation to renovate the Garden’s Temperate and Tropical Palm Houses, built in 1834 and 1856 respectively, will include the complete restoration or replacement of the buildings’ deteriorating stonework, iron and glass.

Following the tour, the Cabinet Secretary was introduced to apprentices who shared their career journeys with him, explaining how they combined academic studies with practical work to develop key skills. While three of the apprentices are currently in education - Kirsten Officer is a cable systems design apprentice studying Electrical Power Engineering at Glasgow Caledonian University, while Anthony Gallagher and Daniel Boyle are apprentice electricians studying at West College Scotland – Fraser Conway is now a qualified Civil Engineer, having completed his apprenticeship in Civil Engineering.

The Palm House is being restored thanks to support from the Scottish Government, National Lottery Heritage Fund, Garfield Weston and other supporters.