Family-owned Subaru and Isuzu dealer Alex F Noble and Son has teamed up with Edinburgh College to host a young Danish mechanic on an apprentice exchange scheme.

Mark Daniel Dam (pictured), who’s 20 and lives close to the village of Thisted in the north west of Denmark, has been working at the dealership as a service and maintenance mechanic for the last two months out of a three month placement.

Robert Docherty, a lecturer in automotive engineering at Edinburgh College’s Midlothian campus in Dalkeith, heads up the apprentice exchange scheme and facilitated Dam’s stay at the Penicuik business.

He said: “Edinburgh College has been working in partnership with the EUC Nordvest school for vocational training in Thisted for many years to offer an apprentice exchange scheme to third year engineering and automotive apprentices.

“The idea of the scheme is to let them experience the industry in which they work in another country and culture. It also helps the Danish apprentices with their English and I believe this is very important to them. Furthermore it gives them an opportunity to visit Scotland and spend some time enjoying all it can offer while earning at the same time.

“Last year’s apprentice, Klaus Kristiansen, really enjoyed his time at the Alex F Noble and Son Nissan dealership at Straiton, so I was delighted the firm was again happy to participate in this year’s scheme by offering a placement, this time at the Subaru/Isuzu dealership in Penicuik. 

Alex F Noble and Son director Colin Noble, said: “Mark’s an exceptionally talented lad and is to be commended for his dedicated work ethic. The exchange scheme has again been a very positive experience for all concerned and we’re very happy to continue to offer another place to another Danish apprentice next year”.