‘I love what I do’ – uni leaver finds true calling at Shetland Museum and Archives
A YOUNG woman who left university after her first year says a modern apprenticeship helped her find her true calling at the Shetland Museum and Archives.
Ellie Sandison, who grew up with a passion for Shetland’s history, found her dream job after initially starting at the museum on the front desk.
Helping at learning events then reignited her love of history, and she was put on the path to becoming a learning and engagement assistant at the museum in Lerwick.
Sandison has built a career after completing a modern apprenticeship as a museum galleries technician, and being awarded an SVQ in museum and galleries practice through Qualifications Scotland.
Qualifications Scotland is highlighting her story as an example of how work-based learning and vocational qualifications can open doors, and how it is never too late to find the right path.
“My career path was not exactly straightforward, but all the skills I learned along the way brought me to where I am today, and I absolutely love what I do,” Sandison said.
“I am grateful I didn’t have to go away to university, and I was able to do work-based learning to help me grow within my role and as a person, as well as find the career which is right for me.”
Her journey began when she started studying history at the University of the Highlands and Islands, but she said the combination of full-time study and work did not suit her, and she left after her first year.
A front-desk role at Shetland Museum and Archives proved to be the turning point, setting her on the path towards her future career.
After her first summer at the museum, she was offered the opportunity to undertake a modern apprenticeship through Museum Galleries Scotland, beginning full-time work in September 2024 while studying towards her SVQ.
Sandison also worked on practical projects including creating a focus display case within the galleries and developing the museum’s learning collection, completing her apprenticeship in November 2025.
She now delivers sessions on Shetland’s heritage with care homes, schools and community groups, and is studying history part-time through the Open University.
Qualifications Scotland’s liaison manager for Shetland, Robert Fraser, said the story was a “wonderful example” of what work-based learning could achieve.
“She has shown that there is no single route to a fulfilling career, and that gaining a qualification in the workplace can be every bit as transformative as a traditional academic path,” he said.
“We are delighted to have played a part in her journey and wish her every success as she continues to grow in her role at Shetland Museum and Archives.”
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