The start of the next generation of CalMac seafarers has been embarked on their maritime careers after landing a berth on the Scottish domestic ferry operator's Modern Apprenticeship scheme.
A total of sixteen young people from Scotland's west coast communities have joined CalMac’s route network staff as the newest members of the highly sought-after programme.
The Modern Apprenticeship programme, writes The Herald Scotland, was launched by CalMac in 2013 and has provided a gateway for almost 200 young people looking to start their careers.
The latest intake joins one of the UK's most respected seagoing apprenticeship schemes, where they get to experience working on board the company’s fleet, which operates to 30 island destinations across the west coast with spectacular scenery and landscapes.
The scheme from the UK’s biggest domestic ferry company, with 32 ferries, has attracted interest from aspiring maritime professionals, offering a direct route into a career at sea while supporting future generations of ferry services across Scotland's islands and coastal communities.
This year's intake of apprentices ranges in age between 17 and 24, and they come from communities across the CalMac network, including the Isles of Skye, Lewis, and Mull, and on the mainland, Oban and Inverclyde on the Clyde.
Over the next 18 months, the apprentices will split time between classroom and onboard learning. This involves the City of Glasgow Nautical College and hands-on experience aboard CalMac ferries, working towards qualifications in either Deck Rating or Engine Rating disciplines.
CalMac, which was established more than 175 years ago, is synonymous with the west coast of Scotland, providing vital lifeline ferry services and carrying millions of people each year to and from the islands and remote peninsular communities.
The company was named by the Merchant Navy Training Board as one of the UK's top five marine apprenticeship employers.
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