MIDLOTHIAN based car dealership, Alex F Noble & Son Nissan, has teamed up with Edinburgh College for the third successive year to host a Danish mechanic on an apprentice exchange scheme.
Simon Dalgaard (20) who lives close to the village of NyKoebing in the north west of Denmark, has been working at the dealership’s Nissan premises at Straiton near Loanhead 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 Simon’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 in Denmark 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.
“Previous apprentices tell me they really enjoyed their 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 & Son Nissan dealer principal, David Noble, said: “Simon is a talented lad and is to be commended for his dedicated work ethic. The exchange scheme continues to be a win/win experience for all concerned and we’re very happy we
were again able to offer a placement this year and look forward to continuing with the scheme next year”.
Simon completes his stay at the dealership at the end of June before returning to Denmark.
He said: “I was delighted to be asked if I wanted to participate in the exchange scheme and work in Scotland. I’m really enjoying my stay here.
“My driving ambition is to run my own garage one day and my stay at Alex F Noble & Son is really helping me achieve my goal by gaining more experience and furthering my skills.
“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.”
