Edinburgh joinery firm nails it with top SME apprentice employer award

JAD Academy scoops award

The construction and interior fit out contractor’s prolific academy won the judges’ vote at a recent Edinburgh Evening News virtual awards ceremony.

The inaugural awards reward the apprentices and their employers who are excelling across the city, as apprenticeship schemes have fast become a route to future employment for thousands of school leavers.

Steven McKenzie, Operations Director of the Fort Kinnaird-based business, said: “It is a real honour to pick up this prestigious award and it is recognition of the hard work being done by so many people.

“Our founder John Dickson has been taking on apprentices for around 15 years but for the last three years we have been calling it the JAD Academy as there has been more structure to it and a regular intake of up to 10 new apprenticeships a year since its formation.

“There’s a great culture within the academy, with candidates coming to us from throughout Edinburgh and the Lothians.

“Construction is the heartbeat of any economy as it filters into everything. We have 30 apprentices fully on the books at the moment covering a wide range of ages. We have an intake every four to six months and actually recruited throughout the pandemic last year.”

The company is looking to expand further by bringing in another 10 apprentices in the summer. Mr McKenzie added: “This is an exciting period for the company and we have lots of plans going forward to keep the business developing”.

The award was open to a business with up to 249 employees offering apprenticeships.

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