A Paisley man has praised the NHS for helping him achieve a degree in Building Surveying.

Brian Droy was working as a technical clerk at Glasgow's Royal Infirmary (GRI) when he was offered the chance to complete his qualifications through a bursary programme, which allows staff within the NHS to learn and upskill with courses relevant to their field of work.

He started his four year degree course before joining the Inverclyde Royal Hospital’s (IRH) Estates team, completing the first year while working at GRI. 

While Brian admits the course was a big undertaking, he was delighted to have been given the opportunity by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) and praised his team for the support they have given him.

The Gazette:

The technical officer said: "I was still a technical clerk at the GRI and the opportunity to do this came up. 

"I jumped at the chance, it's an amazing opportunity where the NHS essentially pays and enables me to do this. It's good for the organisation too because it expands my abilities, so it’s a win-win.

"The first year was at the GRI before I moved here to the IRH. The team have been so supportive, our manager made it very clear that this was important and that I should take the time to achieve it, it was very supportive.

"For me this was a chance to get a degree, which can be important if you’re looking to progress, which is a factor for me. For myself it was done to pursue a promoted position, which I was ultimately able to get."

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Stuart McCready, estates officer at IRH, also took part in the bursary programme and completed his honours degree in Building Services Engineering, achieving a first class grade.

The Gourock man said: "I put a lot of work into getting my honours degree, and was given so much support to be able to do that. 

"From my class at uni, there were six of us from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde who completed the course, four of us got first class honours and the other two got 2:1s, so that speaks volumes about the employer and as an organisation."

Ross Campbell, operational estates site manager at the IRH, added: "On behalf of the entire Estates team, and wider IRH team, I would like to say a huge congratulations to both Stuart and Brian."