Eleven students at UHI Inverness graduated from the CECA Scotland Academy at Balloch campus before heading directly into interviews with leading civil engineering employers.
Finlay Andrew, Blake Coull, Riley Davis, Allan MacDougall, Cillian Maciver, Leon Macleod, CJ MacPhee, Ryan Mitchell, Aaron Innes, Eoghan McKinlay and Calvin Pate received their certificates during a special event marking the completion of the 18 week programme.
The students then moved straight into an on campus recruitment session, part of a process that guarantees interviews for all who complete the course.
Mark Bramley, a board member of CECA Scotland, presented the certificates.
He told the graduates:
“Today is about you, you have now graduated and we as an organisation have engaged with our members to offer you interviews later this morning, and there is a significant likelihood that you will be offered employment.
“There are huge opportunities for a really progressive career in civil engineering, and I am excited for you for the future, and I wish you all the best.”
By the end of the event, some students had secured firm job offers while others were invited to follow up interviews.
During the presentation, Mark also spoke about the scale of opportunity within the sector, describing billions of pounds being invested annually in a “huge pipeline of work” across water, rail, road, sea and flood defences and energy and renewables projects.
CECA Scotland represents 110 members responsible for around 80 percent of civil engineering activity in Scotland, a sector worth £4.5 billion a year.
Nationally, 72 percent of CECA Scotland Academy students up to August 2025 have moved into positive destinations including employment in civil engineering and construction.
Since 2023, 45 students across five cohorts have completed the programme at UHI Inverness.
Carrie Higgins, Tertiary Education Leader at UHI Inverness, said:
“This programme is absolutely an exemplar of what it means to be an organisation like ours, working hand-in-hand with partners on an industry-designed, industry-supported programme that gives students the opportunity to have a learning experience, get a qualification and go straight into employment.
“What makes us so unique at UHI Inverness is that we have the opportunity to be both a college and a university, which means that in civil engineering we can deliver the CECA Scotland Academy and foundation, modern and graduate apprenticeships.
“That means that wherever your careers take you, there is an opportunity to weave in and out of UHI Inverness to gain further qualifications as you progress, we are here for you throughout your career.”
Billy Baxter, Customer Engagement Manager at CITB Scotland, said:
“CITB is proud to support the CECA Scotland Academy, which is a powerful example of how targeted funding and strong collaboration between industry and education can deliver real outcomes.
“This programme is helping to address skills shortages in civil engineering by giving learners the practical skills, confidence and direct routes into employment that employers need.
“Seeing students move from graduation straight into interviews and job offers shows the return on investment for industry, for learners and for Scotland’s infrastructure sector.
“We look forward to continuing our work with CECA Scotland and UHI Inverness to grow the future workforce.”
The course is delivered in partnership with Fife College within the SQA framework and supported by the Scottish Funding Council and the Construction Industry Training Board.
Students began studying for the NPA Construction Operations qualification last September, attending five days a week between 9am and 5pm.
Industry visits included Strabag’s work on SSE’s Coire Glas tunnel project, Pat Munro’s site in Elgin and the Balfour Beatty A9 project at Dalmagarry, alongside campus sessions featuring virtual reality simulators and remote control digger training.
