A Foundation Apprenticeship in Business Skills during his sixth year at Mearns Academy marked the starting point of Kai’s apprenticeship journey, which is set to conclude this summer with an honours degree in Data Science via a Graduate Apprenticeship.
Read on to learn about the central role that apprenticeships have played in Kai’s career to date – and how he picked up a prestigious industry award along the way.
Finding a foundation
For many young people, the decision about which path to pursue after school isn’t straightforward, and this proved to be the case for Kai.
“Although I performed quite well in S5 and S6, I didn’t enjoy exams as I learn better through doing,” Kai says.
It was this self‑awareness, in part, that led him to opt for a Foundation Apprenticeship in place of a Higher in his final year at school. He chose the Business Skills Foundation Apprenticeship, which – like all Foundation Apprenticeships – included a placement with a local firm. Kai credits the programme with giving him a solid grounding in business development.
Post-school steps
With his Foundation Apprenticeship complete and school drawing to a close, Kai still faced some uncertainty.
“A lot of my friends were heading off to university, but I didn’t feel ready to choose and commit to a four‑year course,” he explains. “I’d heard my dad talk about the energy industry and the growth of renewables, which piqued my interest. I was also keen on tech and had enjoyed maths at school, but I wasn’t convinced that an IT career in the more general sense was right for me.”
With his father’s support and encouragement, Kai embarked on a Modern Apprenticeship with Marex.
A flexible framework
Kai’s Modern Apprenticeship allowed him to gain a series of qualifications recognised by the Scottish Credit & Qualifications Framework (SCQF), while also exploring where his own career aspirations lay. His apprenticeship pathway enabled him to gain an SCQF Level 6 qualification in Digital Marketing, followed by Level 7 and Level 8 qualifications in Creative Media and Data Analytics respectively.
“During my digital marketing course, I had the chance to put my learning into practice for my employer, Marex,” he says. “I really enjoyed being able to implement what I learned immediately – by creating social media posts for the company, for example.”
“By this time, I was becoming increasingly aware of roles in data science and machine learning, and I was able to explore this area through the Level 8 course in Data Analytics. It was this course that really lit the touchpaper and encouraged me to pursue my Graduate Apprenticeship in Data Science at Robert Gordon University.”
Degree of success
How has Kai found the experience of studying for a degree while working full‑time?
“The first two years of my degree course were quite broad‑based; however, Marex is a specialist risk‑management consultancy, so the course has really come into its own for me – and my employer – in years three and four,” he says. “The Marex team have supported me throughout the apprenticeship so that I can bring knowledge and expertise back into the business. I can honestly say that the course content in the latter years has allowed me to create efficiencies and contribute to new service lines and products, particularly in relation to artificial intelligence (AI).”
His achievements were formally recognised in 2025 when Kai won the Rising Star of the Year award at the Northern Star Business Awards, hosted by Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce — a testament to the impact he has already made at just 23 years old.
Parting thoughts
“The apprenticeship route was definitely the right pathway for me,” says Kai.
“I like the experience of working within the business, instead of only learning the theory. Being an employee has allowed me to grow my network and progress through different job roles over the past four years.” Kai’s career trajectory has seen him build knowledge across a range of areas including digital marketing, risk consultancy, commercial and data science, culminating in his current role as Data Scientist and AI Specialist.
“I was far more confident and motivated embarking on my degree, knowing that I’d be able to relate and apply my learning to a job that I already enjoy. It’s a route that I’d absolutely recommend.”
With a Rising Star title under his belt and graduation on the horizon in a few months’ time, the sky’s the limit for this apprentice.
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Thanks to Kai and Marex for their support with this article - and to Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce for the photograph permission.
Scottish Apprenticeship Week runs from 2-6 March. Find out more about the campaign - and the power of apprenticeships - here.
Employers who wish to explore how apprenticeships can support their business, can contact the DYW North East team here.
