Construction and Hospitality Foundation Apprenticeships have now begun at Forth Valley College.
Running on all three campuses, around 200 pupils from Lornshill Academy and Stirling, St Modan’s, Larbert, Braes, and Denny High Schools are already taking the FAs at SCQF Level 4 and 5 – with a focus on developing meta-skills, such as communicating, collaborating, sense-making, critical thinking, adaptability and integrity through a work based challenge.
This is the second year Forth Valley College has provided further work-based learning opportunities to local young people as part of a pilot programme of Foundation Apprenticeships at SCQF Level 4 & 5 for pupils from S3 to S6.
During the pilot phase in 2019/20, delivery through the College was supported by employers including Historic Environment Scotland, Robertson and Morrison Construction in cooperation with Stirling, St Modan’s, and Braes High Schools. The College also provided support as an employer, utilising the training kitchen at the Stirling Campus and supporting the Hospitality cohort at Braes High School.
Building on the success of last year’s pilots, FVC are keen to work with Skills Development Scotland (SDS) and school partners to embed this great addition to the apprenticeship offer within the region.
Forth Valley College’s range of Foundation Apprenticeships offer pupils from local schools
These innovative programmes, being offered in partnership with Falkirk, Stirling and Clackmannanshire schools, link senior school pupils with local employers and aims to help them to build their future careers. Upon completion of a Foundation Apprenticeship pupils can progress onto a Modern Apprenticeship, college study or a university degree.
As well as the Construction and Hospitality pilot Foundation Apprenticeships, Foundation Apprenticeships at SCQF Level 6 are available in Social Services and Healthcare; Social Services Children and Young People; Business Skills; IT Hardware System Support ; Engineering; Accountancy; Civil Engineering; Creative and Digital Media; IT Software Development; and Scientific Technologies (Laboratory Skills).
Helen Young, Head of Learning and Quality at FVC, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded over 200 Level 4 and 5 Foundation Apprenticeship places in Construction and Hospitality and I am really excited that pupils from across all of our schools in Forth Valley have the opportunity to take part. Our pilots for the programmes in 2019-20 were hugely successful and we plan to build on this success. Times are challenging at present, but the College, our school partners and employers are committed to the programme.
“Pupils work closely with employers and deliver projects to a brief set by a real life client. Working in collaboration with key employers will engage learners in the planning of project design/build and in doing so, support their understanding of construction and hospitality industries. One example of a construction project they will be working on is that they will plan and build an outdoor shelter for school social space. For hospitality, pupils will host a range of events and develop projects around some of the schools’ community cafes.”
Conor Gray, Assistant Community Skills Manager, at Morrison Construction, said: “Morrison Construction are committed to working with SDS and Forth Valley College to create a meaningful pathway into construction.
“We will do this by supporting innovative initiatives such as the Work Based Learning Programme which gives a real hands on experience to the young people, as well as an insight to different roles from industry professionals and also providing Work Experience Placement opportunities for students. We look forward to working together in the future and delivering more success.”
Skills Development Scotland currently delivers Foundation Apprenticeships in schools at SCQF Level 6 and is working with selected partners to pilot Work-based Learning opportunities for S3 to S6 school pupils at SCQF Levels 4 & 5.
Pilot SCQF Level 4 & 5 Foundation Apprenticeships focus on developing meta-skills in individuals such as innovation, organisational, problem-solving and communication, which are recognised as life-long skills an individual needs to adapt to change in work and vital skills employers look for.
SDS worked in partnership with SQA to develop this pilot model with qualifications offered in Automotive Skills, Construction and Hospitality, which includes a team challenge working with an employer on a project for a real customer.
SDS Director of Critical Skills and Occupations, Diane Greenlees said: "Foundation Apprenticeships are creating more confident young people with the critical skills and relevant qualifications for the workplace.
“SDS is committed to working with SQA and partners to widen opportunities for more young people to benefit from Work-based Learning and bring education and employers closer together.
“The pilot programme offering Work-based Learning in schools at SCQF Levels 4 & 5 focuses on developing meta-skills that are both personal and practical and contribute to work readiness and our ambition is to create a final model that will be embedded into the Scottish school curriculum.”