SOUTH Ayrshire Council employee Ronnie Patterson was a finalist at the recent APSE Apprentice of the Year awards.

Although Ronnie did not come away with the top award on this occasion, he should be very proud of his achievements.

Ronnie started his modern apprenticeship in plastering when he was 38; already a qualified painter and decorator, Ronnie wanted to master new skills and when the council offered him the chance to do just that, he grasped the opportunity with both hands.

Over 2 years, Ronnie worked with apprentices much younger than himself to learn his new trade.

This may have proved difficult for some but from the outset, Ronnie’s enthusiasm to learn set an example to the other apprentices.

Ronnie was put forward for the APSE Apprentice of the Year award because his hard work and dedication encouraged others to aspire to his standards.

He was also generous with his time and knowledge, helping others in his college class with their projects.

His hard work led to him being named Apprentice of the Year two years running by South Lanarkshire College.

Ronnie is part of the council's Property Maintenance team which APSE recognised recently as being one of the most improved services in the UK.

Ronnie said: "It was a great experience getting to the APSE finals and the hard work really has paid off now that I am qualified.

"I never thought I would go back to college at my age but being that wee bit older meant I could pass on my experience to the other guys.”

Councillor Robin Reid, Resources and Performance Portfolio Holder for South Ayrshire Council said: “Ronnie is a great role model for anyone who might be considering a change of career or starting an apprenticeship later in life. "Throughout the council, staff are learning new skills which is great for personal development but also means our customers benefit too.”