As the Methil site’s resident award winner, Lorna Downie has made an impressive start to life at Harland & Wolff and hit the ground running from the outset of her apprenticeship.
Having spent ten years working with children and families, Lorna sought a career change.
She wanted something that would be different, keep her busy and empower her to learn new skills. Having always held an interest in welding, Lorna was aware of the history of Harland & Wolff and was keen to become a part of its future.
When asked about the path that she took to reach this point in her career, Lorna explained: “I’m someone who was intimidated by tools and lacked confidence in large situations, so joining this trade has had a huge impact on my life, building my confidence. Even as a first year, it has taught me so much already.”
“I would recommend the apprenticeship scheme to all, whether it’s school leavers or people like me who have a decade of working experience behind them. The structure around the scheme gives you a huge sense of pride and ensures that you are always looked after.
“There is a huge future with Harland & Wolff, and fundamentally there are opportunities to learn skills that you will keep forever.”