Hands-on healthcare: How Morgan builds life-changing prosthetics

Making the leap to hands-on learning

We are celebrating Scottish Apprenticeship Week 2026 by sharing stories of young people like Morgan who chose a different path.

For Morgan, sitting in a classroom studying for her Highers just didn’t feel like the right fit. Morgan knew she thrived in a practical environment and wanted a career that would allow her to create and make things. Instead of following the traditional university route, she found a path that offered the best of both worlds - a Modern Apprenticeship.

Today, Morgan works as a prosthetic and orthotic technician.

Her choice to do a Modern Apprenticeship meant she could get real-world experience, earn a wage, and attend college at the same time. Most importantly, the theory Morgan learns in the classroom instantly clicks because she applies it directly to her work.

At first, balancing study and work was difficult. But by discussing the challenges with her managers and trainers, Morgan built a sustainable routine. It allows her to excel on the workshop floor and keep up with her college assignments.

A typical day in the workshop

Morgan's daily routine might be different from what you’d expect. After planning the week's training and tasks with her mentors, she gets straight to work making custom sockets for patients.

Using a cast of a patient's limb, Morgan crafts the socket using advanced materials like carbon fibre and fibreglass combined with resin. She carefully cuts the material to the correct size and smooths it out so that the patient has a comfortable, perfect fit.

Her role requires a constant blend of communication, creativity, and adaptability. Sometimes the manufacturing process does not always go exactly to plan. Morgan has to adapt in the moment and figure out innovative ways to make the design work.

The real impact of the role

People often assume Modern Apprenticeships are just for those who hate studying. Morgan strongly disagrees. For her, it is not about avoiding education at all. It is about choosing a path that fits a hands-on learning style. If you learn better by actually doing the work rather than just reading about it, this route could be ideal for you too.

The real reward of the job is the direct impact Morgan has on patient care. Recently, a specific job had been missed in the system, and Morgan was asked if she could complete a socket on a very tight deadline. Aware of how important the new leg was for the patient's independence, she made sure it was ready on time.

Afterwards, the prosthetist told her that the patient absolutely loved their new limb. Knowing her hard work directly improved someone's quality of life gave Morgan a massive sense of achievement. Looking to the future, her goal is to become a fully qualified technician and, eventually, an advanced technician.