The team at SDC-LEARN, a training and learning provider based in Melrose in the South of Scotland, are not only celebrating the start of a new year, but are also revelling in news of their success in the 2025 Scottish Apprenticeship Awards, which will take place in central Scotland on the 27th February.
As well as their own success in reaching the finals in the Leading in Learning Provision category, colleagues from SDC-Learn are also celebrating the achievements of two of their learning partners and apprentices who have also been confirmed as finalists in the Foundation Apprentice of the Year and Modern Apprentice of the Year SCQF Level 6+ categories.
The awards showcase the work of Foundation, Modern and Graduate Apprentices and celebrate the outstanding achievements of the learning providers and employers who support and promote apprenticeships and work-based learning in Scotland. For SDC-LEARN to be associated with three of the 24 Scottish finalists is a huge achievement for a small, family-run business in the Scottish Borders.
SDC-LEARN employ seven full time assessors with six associates and have grown their business exponentially in just nine years supporting over 1,000 apprentices (Foundation and Modern) from Dumfries and Galloway in the south to as far north as the Highlands and Islands. They also support apprentices who work offshore. Their experience, dedication and their commitment to providing a tailored approach to every apprentice, employer and partner is what sets SDC-LEARN apart as a leading learning and training provider in Scotland.
Joining them at the awards in February will be 17-year-old Emily Copeland from Dumfries. Emily was in S6 at Dumfries High School when she completed her 2-year Foundation Apprentice in Creative and Digital Media in 2024. Foundation Apprenticeship allow senior school pupils to gain practical work experience and academic qualifications while still at school.
SDC-Learn have partnered with Dumfries and Galloway Council for four years and have supported 40 plus local students through their apprenticeships in the region. They are delighted to see Emily recognised for her outstanding achievements supporting Queen of the South FC with their marketing and digital media as part of her Foundation Apprenticeship.
Also joining them will be Niomi Patterson-Bunyan who completed her Modern Apprenticeship SCQF level 7 in Hospitality Supervision and Leadership with her employer, SCHLOSS Roxburghe. SDC-Learn have supported Niomi and SCHLOSS Roxburghe on their apprenticeship journey for the last year and are full of praise for their ongoing commitment and for everything they have accomplished together.
Sarah Dalrymple, Director and Founder of SDC-LEARN is proud to play such a significant role in the learning journey of so many apprentices in Scotland and is pleased that the hard work of her own team and of two of their apprentices, training partners and employers are being recognised at the 2025 awards. She said:
“Of course, we would love to win and to see our apprentices win their awards too, but we are genuinely delighted and so proud to have reached the finals in three different categories. It is a privilege to do the work we do and to support so many apprentices and employers and it is wonderful to see more and more people and organisations recognising the value of work-based learning across different sectors in Scotland. We have worked with some exceptional employers, training partners and apprentices over the years and we pride ourselves in providing a personalised approach, which helps ensure we give every individual and organisation the best chance to make work-based learning fun and engaging for everyone. I wish Emily, Niomi and my team all the best in the final and I hope 2025, (which will be our 10th year in operation) will be full of celebrations and personal achievements for all those we work with.”
Find out more about SDC-LEARN by visiting https://sdc-learn.com/or get in touch with Sarah and her team by calling 07771 553186.
