Hannah Gibb completed an ECITB Scholarship at North East Scotland College (NESCol) and ASET International Energy Training Academy between 2022 and 2024 before securing a position with Altrad Sparrows in Aberdeen as a trainee technician.
Her dedication on the course and at the company led to her being nominated for New Entrant of the Year at the ECI Training and Development Awards 2024.
Hannah took time out from working in the hydraulics workshop at Altrad Sparrows to speak to us about how being a scholar has led to opportunities in industry. She also shares her advice to anyone considering joining the engineering construction industry.
My ECITB Scholarship journey
Hannah started on the ECITB Scholarship Programme at the Aberdeen college when she was 22. Her peers in the cohort ranged in age from 16 to 32.
Growing up in Aberdeenshire, Hannah had originally set her sights on joining the Royal Air Force but was unable to pursue this for health reasons.
She said: “I had started a maths degree, but it wasn’t for me and I ended up working for a few years. I was thinking about going back to university and going down the engineering route instead, but then saw this course advertised.
“With it being two years rather than four, and with possibilities of a career at the end, it really ticked a few boxes, especially as I’m interested in getting into renewable energy.”
ECITB Scholarships provide aspiring engineers like Hannah with the skills and knowledge they need to start their careers and thrive in industry.
The full-time engineering programme enables learners to gain industrial skills as well as three industry-recognised qualifications and the CCNSG Safety Passport, all while receiving a weekly allowance.
The two-year Engineering Construction Scholarship Technician Pathway Programme, like the one attended by Hannah, helps learners become versatile, multi-discipline electrical/mechanical technicians suitable for deployment in all energy sectors.
She added: “There was a good mix of theory and practical, so it was good to experience both sides and I really enjoyed the electrical side.
“We also got to go on site visits which was pretty amazing to see the different facilities, the scale of the projects and the work being done.”
Pictured: Hannah Gibb soon after starting on the ECITB Scholarship Programme at NESCol.
How I got into industry
As part of the scholarship programme, Hannah did a work placement at Altrad Sparrows – a provider of specialist engineering, inspection, operations and maintenance services to the industrial, offshore energy and renewables markets.
During her week, Hannah completed working-at-height and crane awareness training and got a taste of working in its mechanical, electrical, hydraulics and fabrication workshops.
Hannah, then 24, was subsequently offered an interview which led to the job opportunity, with two others from the course also landing positions at the same time.
“When we joined, we were put on a nine-month rotation to spend three months in the electrical, mechanical and hydraulics workshops before deciding which field we will then go into,” she added.
“The programme I was put on as a trainee technician has been a really good opportunity and I have been able to learn from people with lots of different experiences and stories.”
Pictured: Former ECITB Scholarship learner Hannah Gibb being put through her paces in a workshop at Altrad Sparrows.
Any advice for those starting a scholarship?
Hannah has passed on her advice to new cohorts of scholars during kick-off meetings and stresses the importance of reaching out to people.
“The main piece of advice I would give anyone is to maximise your time with people from industry.
“We met a lot of people from businesses that came into the college to give us advice. Usually, you won’t hear from them again, but if you follow up with them on email or drop them a message on LinkedIn to thank them for their time, it gives you that contact for the future you can go back to.
“That was helpful for me because when you’re meeting people in your first year, you’re not really thinking that in two years’ time you might need to get in touch with them again. So, it’s helpful to start building a network straight away if you can.
“I was not that confident when I started the course. I remember people from companies coming in and I was sat at the back feeling a bit overwhelmed. But the networking events force you to give it a go and you realise people aren’t that scary.
“It’s easy to put your head in the sand and hope it works out, but if you are proactive and show your interest it can make all the difference.
“All these people have had a good career in industry so even if it’s not a job at the end, you might get advice or they point you in the right direction to people you should talk to.”
Hannah Gibb
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