Change to MA programme is improving skills

Change to MA programme is improving skills
INEOS MAs with their certificates

A modification to the INEOS/PetroIneos Modern Apprenticeship programme is beginning to bear fruit already.

Research had found that while the first year of the Apprenticeship provided the MAs with a good level of theory at NC level and a PEO2 (Performing Engineering Operations Level 2 SVQ) it was felt there was still a lack of basic hand skills when they arrived on site. 

A new 18 week Additional Skills Programme was developed to improve practical skills and provide a greater level of ability and understanding of the importance of Health and Safety in the workshops and on site.  Now the MAs are brought back to College full-time for block 1 of the second year to start HNC coursework one day a week, and project work to develop their practical skills for the remaining four days a week. 

Lorna Allison, FVC’s MA Manager for INEOS, said: “Further discussions after the first year of the programme led to the programme being developed into more discipline specific project work with the Instrument and Control/Electrical Apprentices and the Mechanical Apprentices working on a joint project and the Chemical Process Apprentices learning more about the processes and procedures on site. 

“Additional benefits are that the programme has also developed team working skills and the presentations taking place on site (see photographs) allows the MAs to showcase what they have been working on during the additional six months in college. This allows them to develop their presentation and communication skills in front of site supervisors, technicians, assessors and the college teaching staff and the curriculum managers involved in the programme.

“I think it is fair to say that year on year the programme has improved and been of huge benefit to all involved.”

 

INEOS MAs on stage