For this year’s No Wrong Path campaign, SCCAN’s staff and volunteers are sharing their career stories to show young people that you don’t need to follow a traditional route to get into the community and environmental sector.
Craig Dunn – SCCAN Operations Lead
After leaving high school I was kicked out of Uni after two years and ended up on work experience at an Internet Start up. From there I started my own I.T. company and sold my first network to another startup – an outdoor pursuits company. I ended up teaching myself to code and wrote their booking system. Before long I was doing more work for the outdoor pursuits company than my own entity and was asked to join the board as a working director. I ended up being there thirteen, mostly fun years. It was there I got into digital marketing (Which was in its infancy), then ended up consulting with an Edinburgh agency that had some huge clients (Energy companies, banks etc). From there I decided that in order to save my soul I had to transition across to the community sector and (via a short three year stint transformed a local packaging company) I ended up running the Knoydart Foundation for five years and now SCCAN. My advice would be, do what makes you happy.
Carolyn MacPhee – SCCAN Director
I left home during my High School exams, due to ongoing issues with my home-life. I fell into a job in a kitchen, starting on dishes and eventually became a commi-chef. Whilst I loved this job, my head chef encouraged me to go to college.
Without traditional entry qualifications, I joined an Access to science course, giving a Scotvec group award equivalent to Highers. I stayed on at College for a further year to complete an HNC in General Science and this gave me access to second year at a Scottish University. Unfortunately I was misadvised and couldn’t complete the degree I wanted with the chosen subjects, however, I graduated with a designated degree and entered the offshore petrochemical industry as a Technical Assistant. Ten years later I was the Eastern Hemisphere Business Development Manager for the third largest global supply company to oil and gas.
Since then, I’ve run an international company, started my own company and am about to take up a new business development challenge for a community owned island.
Good luck to all those awaiting results and remember, those grades don’t define your success in life, you do! #NoWrongPath
Eilidh MacKay – SCCAN Accounts Assistant
After I left school: I dropped out of an academic degree to study Art, and then I started a social enterprise.
Pam Candea – SCCAN Community Engagement Animator
After I left school, I did an English degree, but then became a computer programmer. I currently work for SCCAN in Community Engagement to tackle the impacts of climate change.
Madeleine Scobie – SCCAN Assistant Communications Weaver
After I left School, I did a few years at College studying Media Production and went on to study it further at University. After a short period of work experience as a TV Production Assistant, I came across a volunteer ad for a video editor at SCCAN and thought I would give it a go. I took an interest in the community/climate sector and I ended up staying at the organisation. I currently still work here as an Assistant Communications Weaver and I promote SCCAN’s services and activities.
Ruth – SCCAN Communications Weaver
I didn’t get the exam results I needed to get into my conditional place at Glasgow University but thankfully the University of Strathclyde accepted me to study English and Sociology – which, in hindsight, definitely suited me better than my original plan.
My work life has been very varied. Roles I have had: all the hospitality jobs!, call centre sales, procurement, admin, bid writing, making and selling jewellery, teaching, fundraising, freelance social media, project and active travel co-ordinator.
I have since found my home in climate communications and I also run my own very small baking operation providing cakes and biscuits for local businesses when I’m not working for SCCAN.
I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to try different jobs and grow, and especially to be working at SCCAN where I can contribute in my own way to the climate movement. I am a huge believer, and a breathing example, that there is truly #NoWrongPath
