A Shetland body-shop owner has shown his commitment to business development through significant investment in work-based training.

Allan Stronach is the owner of Stronach's Body Repairs in Lerwick. While he has encouraged staff to achieve Modern Apprenticeships (MAs), he realised that, despite his experience, he did not have the qualification himself.

He approached Train Shetland, and was soon undertaking his own apprenticeship.  At the same time he also undertook a course to become a qualified assessor to help him support the training of others.  Both training courses were supported with funding assistance from Shetland Enterprise.

Allan's example has proven a good incentive to the workforce. Requiring only minimal extra grant funding than for a single MA, both he and staff member Kevin Wiseman now hold MA certificates in Vehicle Body and Paint Operations (BodyRepair) and Vehicle Body and Paint Operations (Refinishing).  Kevin and Allan are the first two apprentices in the industry in Shetland to hold both certificates.

Last year Allan moved the business into brand new premises on the Port Business Park, Lerwick and recruited an extra two apprentices.

With encouragement from Allan, experienced staff member Mark Herriot elected to pursue a formal qualification to prove his competence. Working together, Train Shetland and Shetland Enterprise have arranged for Mark to be able to complete his MA in the Vehicle Body and Paint Operations (Refinishing) discipline on Shetland. A tutor and assessor from Aberdeen College will instruct Mark on regular visits and he will be able to sit his exams on-line.

Allan now has four apprentices working in Lerwick: Callum Leslie, Sean Webster, Steven Stove and Kevin Wiseman - each re-inforcing and up-dating their skills through vocational training provided by Train Shetland.

Shetland Enterprise provided all the funding for the off-the-job training associated with the MAs. Rachel Hunter of Shetland Enterprise said: "MAs are our flagship training programme and it is pleasing to see that Stronach's Body Repairs have embraced MAs for practically all their workshop staff.  The delivery of MAs at Stronach's has also been particularly innovative through the use of electronic media and shows what can be achieved."

Allan said: "We are very grateful to the input from Aberdeen College for its role in delivering these programmes. Without the co-operation and understanding of college staff Kevin Nicolson and Stewart Joss, it would be much more difficult to provide these programmes in a remote area like Shetland.

"My staff and I would also like to thank Rachel Hunter of Shetland Enterprise and David Diamond of Train Shetland for the input they have made to our training programmes."

Ann Black, Chief Executive of Shetland Enterprise said, "Stronach's Body Repairs is an excellent example of a growing company which is seeking to get the best from its people through investment in training and staff development."