In the second of our interviews with apprentices, we speak to 19-year-old Sam McDougall, a first-year apprentice with George Nicolson, studying at Edinburgh College.
What’s your background?
I’m from Gilmerton in Edinburgh and I went to Liberton High School. I always loved working with my hands, doing woodwork or engineering. During S5, the school suggested I enrol in a year-long construction course at Edinburgh College (Granton campus), where I got the chance to try out plastering and electrical work. I still attended classes at school, but went to Edinburgh College two days a week. I preferred painting and decorating, so I did a pre-apprenticeship course where I was named best student in my class.
I wrote to George Nicolson at the beginning of 2025, asking if they were taking apprentices on. Their programme starts in April, so I formally applied then and, with the help of a strong supporting reference from my tutor, I got an interview was taken on. It helped that I worked hard on my pre-apprenticeship course. My great-uncle was a decorator, so maybe it runs in the family. My mum thinks I’ve made a good decision – she says if I stick in, it’s a job for life.
Where are you today and what are you up to?
I’m at college today and I’m learning how to use a heat gun to strip paint. I have to use protective gloves and eye goggles. I’ve also been shown the best way to paint a door, using oil-based eggshell paint.
How is your apprenticeship going?
I’m still only in my first year, but I am really enjoying it. George Nicolson only took on two apprentices last year and we both attend Edinburgh College to do the training. We do two weeks on and three weeks off, so it means you can get good experience of starting and completing a job, which I like. I’ve painted my Nan and Grandad’s bathroom for them and I must have done a decent job, as they want me to do the living room now!
Most of the jobs I do are in the centre of Edinburgh – a mixture of domestic and commercial – but I have been out to East Lothian a few times.
I’m given quite a bit of responsibility. I get a whole room to do myself, from preparation to completion. A tradesperson will still check in on me, but I am pretty much left to get on with it.
What skills are you learning?
I’ve only been working for six months, so I haven’t had a chance to try everything – such as wallpapering, for example. I just love the fact that you can go into a house or whatever, and it looks terrible. Then, after a few days and some hard graft, you’ve transformed it into something amazing. The customers are happy and you feel good about the work.
I’ve seen that there is an option to do competitions in the future, and I am keen to give this a try. It sounds like a good way to progress your career, even if you don’t win, as it’s a great experience.