MIDLOTHIAN-based car dealership, Alex F Noble Nissan, has teamed up with Edinburgh College to host a Danish mechanic on an apprentice exchange scheme.
Bryan Sirbaugh, 32, lives close to the village of Thisted in the north west of Denmark and has been working at the dealership’s Nissan premises at Straiton as a service and maintenance mechanic for the last two months out of a three-month placement.
Robert Docherty, a lecturer in automotive engineering at Edinburgh College’s Midlothian campus in Dalkeith, heads up the apprentice exchange scheme and facilitated Bryan’s stay at Alex F Noble & Son.
He said: “Edinburgh College has been working in partnership with the EUC Nordvest school for vocational training in Thisted for many years to offer an apprentice exchange scheme to third year engineering and automotive apprentices.
“The idea of the scheme is to let them experience the industry in which they work in another country and culture. It also helps the Danish apprentices with their English and I believe this is very important to them. Furthermore it gives them an opportunity to visit Scotland and spend some time enjoying all it can offer while earning at the same time.
“Last year’s apprentice, Mark Daniel Dam, really enjoyed his time at Alex F Noble & Son, so I was delighted the firm was again happy to participate in this year’s scheme by offering a placement at the Nissan dealership at Straiton.”
Alex F Noble Nissan Dealer Principal, David Noble, said: “Bryan is an exceptionally talented lad and is to be commended for his dedicated work ethic. The exchange scheme has again been a win/win experience for all concerned and we’re very happy we were able to offer a placement again this year and look forward to continuing with the scheme next year.”
Bryan completes his stay at the dealership at the end of June before returning to Denmark.
He said: “I was delighted when my teacher back home asked me if I wanted to participate in the exchange scheme and work in Scotland. I’m really enjoying my stay here”.
“Alex F Noble & Son is a great company to gain more experience and further my skills and I’m also loving Scotland. It is such a beautiful country and the people are so nice. I will be sad to leave but hope to come back very soon”.