Meet Glen!
Glen Bunting shared his experiences working as a Seasonal Amenity Operative to encourage people to apply for positions in a similar role.
The 25-year-old explained how anyone wanting to learn new skills who loves working outdoors should consider applying for the six-month contract posts.
With roles available at the council's North Berwick, Musselburgh, Meadowmill and Dunbar depots, successful applicants would provide frontline delivery in street sweeping, general grounds maintenance, and related services across the county.
Glen said: “When I started as a Seasonal Amenity Operative, I covered a range of of activities. You could be out street cleaning then the next day be on gardening duties or maintaining rights of way.
"I appreciate the variety and knowing that my work is directly benefitting the area I live in.”
After staying on in the post, Glen now specialises in gardening work while pursuing a college course in horticulture at SRUC Oatridge on day release.
He said: “I’d been working for the Council since 2018 after starting in business administration supporting facilities management. I realised admin wasn’t really for me, so I moved on to janitorial and cleaning work in other Council posts.
“Then I decided to take a six-month contract as a Seasonal Amenity Operative in April 2023. I wanted to work outside and do more physical work. After a month, I was really enjoying the job and knew this was something I could see myself doing long-term.”
Glen covers a wide geographical area from the Council’s Dunbar depot, carrying out duties in the town along with work in Oldhamstocks, Innerwick, Stenton, Spott, East Linton, and West Barns.
He said: “The place you work can change every day. If you like being out in the fresh air then it’s a fantastic option, especially during the summer months.
“It has given me a great deal of job satisfaction and I appreciate the compliments we receive from members from the public.”
Glen said the six-month posts can lead to longer contracts and full-time roles with the council. He added: “The six-month contract is an excellent way to see if you like it and people often stay on. Everyone in the depot is happy to pass on their knowledge and experience so you can learn a variety of transferable skills. That also gives you a great chance of landing a role with another employer. It could be a springboard to specialise in an area which you found interesting.”
It's your moment to Shine for Cancer Research
Soralla Casas, Finance Officer and two colleagues, Kashia Cichowska and Montse Turueno are looking for staff to join them for the Shine Night Walk for Cancer Research in Edinburgh on 27 September.
Shine Night Walk Edinburgh is an illuminating night-time walk passing some of the city's most famous sights.
People of all abilities can take part with the 10k walk taking between 1.5 to 3 hours to complete.
Soralla said: "like many people, cancer has touched our lives and the lives of our friends and families. We want to help fundraising for Cancer Research, and this walk seemed like an ideal way to support the charity." Sora went on to assert "it's not a run, and it's only 10k. I used to donate my hair for wigs, but this is something I can do with friends and colleagues"
"It would be great if other council colleagues could join us. When you sign up it costs £17.49 and you can select to fundraise for a type of cancer research that is closest to your heart"
For more information visit the Shine Edinburgh webpage.
If you'd like to join Sora, Kashia and Montse why not get in touch?
Email Sora here.
Apprentices Brennan and Alex share the spotlight
Two of our council apprentices were in the spotlight last month as they shared their experiences for Scottish Apprenticeship Week.
Brennan Dugay, a Regulatory Services Modern Apprentice with Regulatory Services and Apprentice Electrician Alex Kelly spoke of the benefits of this route into employment which combines ‘earning and learning’.
Alex told us: “I decided to embark on an apprenticeship as I believe it is a great way to start a lifelong career. As an apprentice I earn while I learn. All the while I am gaining on-site experience and working towards a qualification at college. Apprentices such as myself receive a high quality of training that is sought after, meaning there is always a wide variety of work that can be undertaken and a range of career development opportunities beyond my studied trade.”
Award nominated
Alex has been nominated for the Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE) Apprentice of the Year award. In his second year of his apprenticeship, he’s gaining valuable knowledge on site and at college: “I am currently learning multiple aspects of being an electrician such as testing, electrical fault finding, installing new circuits, upgrading existing circuits and so on. At college, I have had the opportunity to learn through science and technology classes and have the task of designing an entire electrical installation, including calculating illumination levels all the way to selecting the correct type of circuit breakers.
“All the skills and information I have learned so far allow me to progress through my apprenticeship and will give me the ability to work as a qualified electrician in the future.”
Gain qualifications while earning
Like Alex, the ability to earn a salary at the same time as gaining qualifications appealed to Brennan, who joined the organisation in January. Although still early in his modern apprenticeship journey, Brennan’s pleased with the route he’s chosen, saying: “I could never see myself going to uni but having the chance to still be able to get more qualifications and earn, straight from school, it’s much better. I’d recommend it.”
Brennan studied a foundation apprenticeship in scientific technologies while a student at Dunbar Grammar and this led him to think about a different way into the workplace. “I probably wouldn't have actually thought about a modern apprenticeship if I didn't take the foundation apprenticeship,” explains Brennan. “I didn't want to continue in full-time education so the idea of it was so much more appealing. You can work and get paid while getting qualifications.”
Brennan has already been getting to grips with the many areas that regulatory standards is involved in and is enjoying the breadth of activity: “Trading Standards covers a very broad spectrum of things like pricing and feed visits on animals. It's not the same every day: one day you're in a shop and the next you're on a farm.”