Visiting the college’s Springburn Campus yesterday, Graeme Dey, minister for further education, higher education, and veterans, underlined the importance of highlighting the diverse range of career choices and the non-traditional routes for starting off in the workforce.

Kelvin supports 14,000 students - 41% of whom reside within the 10% most deprived postcode areas in Scotland - and works with 300 industry partners to help thousands of people into positive career destinations each year. 

Hosted by Glasgow Kelvin College Principal Joanna Campbell, Mr Dey visited the college’s Building Services Engineering workshop — a key foundational technology for vital sectors for the Scottish economy, including retail, hospitality, and manufacturing. Skilled professionals in this area can ensure facilities remain operational, support sustainability efforts, and deliver efficiencies for businesses and organisations. 

Mr Dey then spent time at Kelvin’s Air Conditioning & Refrigeration workshop - Scotland’s only college apprenticeship training programme in this area, and a highly skilled profession spanning multiple sectors. The college is also Scotland’s largest provider of civil engineering courses and hosts a pioneering ‘Green Academy’ equipping students with the latest training, knowledge, and expertise in developing sustainable technologies. 

Mr Dey’s visit comes one week after National Opportunity Day, an initiative set up by Glasgow Kelvin College to highlight the myriad opportunities available to build a successful career when young people leave school.

Graeme Dey said: “Glasgow Kelvin College is a great example of an institution helping young people in the communities it serves to develop and enhance their skills for the future needs of Scotland’s economy.

“There are many options open to building a successful career, regardless of circumstances and background, and colleges like Kelvin are central to that.”

During his visit, the Minister met some of Glasgow Kelvin College’s students past and present, including five current student apprentices, and Aiden McGhee, who now works for ACTS Engineering Consultancy and chairs the Chartered Institute of Building Service Engineers’ (CIBSE) Young Engineers Network.

Dey also met with Glasgow Kelvin College’s incoming student president Jon Craig to hear about the issues most affecting students and to find out more about how the student association is helping to tackle poverty and support students in financial difficulty – including foodbanks and clothing swaps. He also spoke about the mental health challenges facing students. 

Joanna Campbell added: “We are passionate about providing opportunity and opening up entry routes into college, with progression onto higher qualifications and job opportunities for young people. These are often the key points to addressing poverty in communities like many of the ones we serve in Glasgow, demonstrating the vast array of opportunities available. 

“Our facilities and programmes - including our Building Engineering Services and air conditioning and refrigeration workshops - are great examples of how colleges can contribute to the country’s economic prosperity by combining skills development with net zero goals, meeting industry skills demands and helping people from all backgrounds into potentially lucrative careers.

“Showing Mr Dey the impact of these programmes first hand was an absolute privilege, and I’m particularly pleased the Minister had the opportunity to hear from some of our current and former students about the positive impact Kelvin has had on their lives. They are shining examples of the incredible stories coming out of our college every day and indicative of the bright futures we want all of our students to achieve.”