Livingston-based John Heaney Electrical (JHE) has partnered with West Lothian College for the first time to offer work placement opportunities to students. 

The company, which specialises in all types of electrical and mechanical industrial and commercial-type installations, has provided work experience to local high school pupils in the past and will now also be working with the further education facility.

Third year student Holly McAdam (pictured above) from Livingston Village will be the first to benefit from the new link-up with a marketing placement at JHE’s head office as part of her HND Business course.

She said: “I’d like to thank JHE for the opportunity and I’m looking forward to working with everyone and seeing what marketing techniques they use and what works for them just now.

The thing that excites me the most is getting experience with something that actually interests me and gaining the practical skill which I can use going forward rather than just sitting learning about it.”

JHE Managing Director Mark Heaney said: “It’s great to be collaborating with the college for the first time on something like this. As a company we are very focused on helping the local community and giving opportunities to young people in the area.

 I’m really looking forward to working with Holly and seeing what she comes up with. It’s always good for a fresh, external pair of eyes to look at what we are doing.

She wants to pursue marketing for a career and I’m sure she’ll have some great new ideas for us to think about and hopefully implement in due course.”

WL College business lecturer Romany Rae said: “I first contacted JHE as they are a local employer who works closely with the community. For us it’s all about the student developing the skills needed in the workplace and gaining valuable employer networks to help ensure they have great contacts beyond the classroom. 

The placement opportunity is one which all of our HND Business students take part in as this is their final year before going on to university to do their final BA degree year.”

She added: “Our placements provide students with the opportunity to assess their current knowledge and skills and set their own learning objectives to achieve through work placement.

This is Holly’s third year studying business. This is the first time she will be directly working with the operations of a business and JHE’s cooperation is greatly appreciated.”