My name is Kirsty, I’m a modern apprentice in the Operations team at Stirling Castle and I Make History.
How did you find this role?
I heard about the apprenticeship in my sixth year of school through my careers advisor. Two years on, and it’s one of the best experiences of my life. I’ve learned a variety of new skills, developed old ones, and gained real excitement for work in the heritage sector. To anyone else who is thinking about a modern apprenticeship, I would 100 per cent recommend it. I feel very privileged to work here and I’m sure you would too.
How would you describe your job in three words?
I would describe my job as rewarding, challenging and it’s just fun!
What would five-year-old you think of your job today?
I used to drive past Stirling Castle all the time and now I get to work here every single day. I don’t think my younger self would believe it. It’s such a dominating landmark and I’ve developed so much as a person whilst working here so, I think five-year-old me would be very proud.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
The best thing about my role is meeting hundreds of new people every day from across the globe and keeping Scotland’s history alive and strong by sharing stories with them. For some visitors, it’s their dream to come to Stirling Castle and I get to make it even more of a positive experience for them.
What has been the most memorable moment in your role to date?
My most memorable moment while working at Stirling Castle was when I was working in the ticket office and I sold a Historic Scotland membership to Ariana Grande’s mum, Joan Grande. She’s a lovely person.
The role
Through her role with HES, Kirsty has had the chance to work in a creative and cultural vocational area. Modern Apprenticeships provide the unique opportunity of hands-on experience with the option to advance along educational and career paths. The modern apprentices at Stirling Castle get to work in various teams, such as Admissions, Retail and Tour Guiding, to build confidence and skills in a range of areas. There are also opportunities to gain experience through working on some of the events held at the castle.