Forth Valley College is on course to become one of the largest trainers of Modern Apprentices in Scotland as the 2019/20 session begins.
Overall it has surpassed its Skills Development Scotland (SDS) MA target for the year by 11% and has requested additional starts in Health and Social Care (15), Life Sciences (9) and IT (2). Since 2017 the college has also grown its MA provision by 44%.
The Modern Apprenticeship contract starts at the college have risen from 336 to 362 with Engineering confirming a total of 156 MAs and Construction claiming 101 MAs, one above the target of 100 – with another group of 14 beginning their Construction MAs in January.
The college’s Apprenticeship Family – Foundation, Modern and Graduate Apprenticeships – has recently grown from strength to strength, and this year FVC will also be one of the largest Foundation Apprenticeship practitioners, with 420 school pupils being offered a place on one of the 10 FAs currently on offer at the college.
It is also expected that the state-of-the-art new Falkirk HQ – set to open in early 2020 - will allow FVC to further enhance the opportunities for young people in the coming years as it will focus heavily on training facilities designed for science and technology, engineering, sport and healthcare, and will have state-of-the-art provision and capabilities to accommodate a wide range of FVC’s courses.
Kevin Ross, Managing Director, at Grangemouth based Impact Solutions, said: “Impact Solutions is an independent laboratory and consultancy. We depend on a flexible highly skilled workforce in order to service our global customers. Developing our staff through the Modern Apprenticeship programe is a key piece of our Human Resources strategy and we have found the engineering MA to be a great match to our business over the last four years by taking on young, local and enthusiastic staff. It provides hands-on training, within the working world, while giving employees the chance to gain more confidence in a working environment.
“The approach taken by Forth Valley College has really supported our business growth. They are very efficient in guiding you through the process of choosing the correct MA course to follow. Our college contacts and allocated assessors have also kept us up to date with the progress of the apprenticeships. They have been on hand to provide support to us as employers as well as to our employees.”
Jed Gardner, Production Manager at Glenalmond Timber, who started his own apprenticeship at what was then Falkirk College of Technology in 1974, said: “We continue to support Forth Valley College and young people in our community. Our long-term association with FVC continues with a Glenalmond first - two brothers are signed up for Wood Machinist Apprenticeships starting next month. I would like to extend my gratitude, appreciation and continued support to the college and Steven Adam, who teaches our apprentices.”
Caroline Hogg, FVC’s Client Manager in the Department of Business Development, said: “It is a great achievement to attract so many Modern Apprentices to train at our college - what a great team we have here! The reputation of Forth Valley College in MA training grows stronger every year, especially in Engineering and Construction, but for us to see extra contracts being awarded in areas such as Life Sciences and Health and Social Care is very positive and we are delighted at the results of all our hard work.
“We look forward to building on this success in the future, strengthening our relationships with industry and local schools and helping to make learning work for apprentices in the Forth Valley area.”
FVC is committed to improving, enhancing and developing the learner journey for young people in this new tecnological age described by SDS as ‘Skills 4.0: A Skills model to drive Scotland’s future’. This takes account of the predictions of organisations such as the World Economic Forum, the International Labour Organisation, McKinsey and Co and PwC, who believe that society is moving into a fourth industrial revolution and how it will affect learning institutaions and the skills system as a whole.
FVC works closely with a wide range of partners to ensure they are delivering opportunities which meet the needs of learners, employers, local industry, schools and national skill agendas.
The expertise of the FVC Work Based Assessors to support and tailor the MA’s specific vocational qualification to meet the individual business needs. This combined with the College’s expert lecturing staff and excellent facilities help to tailor training specifically to each employer. It offers MAs in areas ranging from Engineering, Construction, Hospitality and Creative Industries to Business, Hairdressing and Care and prides itself on its close professional links with each industry.
For the most part the MA – who earn a wage while they learn - will be based in their employer’s place of work and attend the College on day/block release basis to learn in excellent training facilities and workshops with well-equipped teaching rooms, high specification laboratories, simulated plants and all the latest technology. However, time spent at College can vary depending on the apprenticeship and programmes typically last between one and four years.
Any business or individual looking to find out more about the opportunities available at FVC around apprenticeships should contact Linda Petrie 01324 403331 or e-mail on linda.petrie@forthvalley.ac.uk .
