Young people from across the Forth Valley area found out about apprenticeships at a Skills Development Scotland (SDS) event held today (22 November) at Forth Valley College’s Falkirk Campus.
SDS worked with Forth Valley College, other training providers, employers and partners to deliver the event to promote apprenticeships.
The event included demonstrations from the College and local employers, as well as presentations from apprentices who shared their experiences of work-based learning.
Aimed at pupils from S2 to S4, the event will help pupils, parents and carers to make choices about their future.
SDS Director of National Training Programmes Katie Hutton said:
“Apprenticeships allow individuals to earn a wage and gain industry-recognised qualifications, as well as supporting employers to develop a skilled workforce for the future.
“The Forth Valley event provided hands-on insight into what an apprenticeship could offer.”
Dr Ken Thomson, Principal of Forth Valley College said:
“We were delighted to host this event for Skills Development Scotland and help them to promote the significant benefits and opportunities that apprenticeships offer. Apprenticeships form a key part of our provision and we offer programmes across a wide range of industry sectors. The event allowed us to showcase our hairdressing and life sciences training and give young people some hands-on taster sessions. We also invited some of our key industry partners – including Edinburgh Airport, FMC Technologies, Premier Hytemp, Syngenta and WGM Engineering – to host engineering workshops as part of the event and highlight the wide range of careers that apprenticeships can lead to.”
Last year there were 1,618 Modern Apprenticeship starts in Forth Valley, up from 1,602 in 2014/15.
An apprenticeship is a great way to get ahead in your career, giving young people the chance to work, learn and earn to gain industry-recognised qualifications.
There are more than 25,500 new Modern Apprenticeship opportunities across Scotland each year, with over 80 different types available in hundreds of jobs.
From financial services and healthcare to construction and IT, each apprenticeship is developed by industry to suit their needs.
This means that apprentices can develop their competence from day-one and gain an accredited qualification which is recognised by industry.
Modern Apprentices themselves are enthusiastic about their achievements – 94 per cent would recommend an apprenticeship to other people*.
Apprenticeships provide an alternative route into the world of work, equipping young people with the skills they need to succeed.
New Foundation Apprenticeships mean young people can also now undertake elements of a Modern Apprenticeship at school alongside their other studies, such as Highers or Advanced Highers.
Foundation Apprenticeships usually take two years to complete with pupils spending part of the week out of school, getting hands-on experience at college and with a local employer in their chosen industry.
With a Foundation Apprenticeship under their belt they leave school with an industry-recognised qualification which is set at SCQF level 6 (the same level as a Higher).
New Graduate Level Apprenticeships provide work based learning opportunities up to Master’s degree level for employees.
*Skills Development Scotland Modern Apprenticeships Outcomes Survey 2016
