Deputy First Minister meets Foundation Apprenticeship stakeholders from Perth and Kinross
As part of Scottish Apprenticeship week 2018, the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, John Swinney, visited Perth College UHI on Thursday 8th March.
As part of Scottish Apprenticeship week 2018, the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, John Swinney, visited Perth College UHI on Thursday 8th March. During the morning, he met key stakeholders in the delivery of Foundation Apprenticeships across Perth and Kinross including; Perth College UHI, Skills Development Scotland, Developing the Young Workforce and local schools. He also spoke to school pupils currently studying towards a Foundation Apprenticeship.
Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, John Swinney said: “I am very pleased Perth College is delivering innovative Foundation apprenticeships, and helping to create life changing opportunities. Foundation Apprenticeships provide a chance to achieve an industry recognised qualification to support future career ambitions, to obtain work experience, and to learn. Not only that, but they help to develop a strong workforce and contribute to business and economic growth. I want to wish the Foundation apprentices here all the best in their future careers and I am confident their experience will help them make informed choices.”
Dr Margaret Cook, Principal and Chief Executive at Perth College UHI added: “Through the unique delivery of these courses providing skills and a qualification, the Foundation Apprenticeship programme is a fantastic way of providing school pupils with a strong foundation for a successful career.”
Kevin Lamont, Foundation Apprenticeship Coordinator at Perth College UHI said: “The Foundation Apprenticeships are all about giving the pupils different career pathways. They get to try out the career of their choice and whilst doing so they get to study in three different places – school, college and the workplace. At the end of it, they will either go on to get a Modern Apprenticeship or use it like any other Higher and go to College or University. The employers working with us benefit too as they often end up mentoring a young person, and then keep them on as a member of staff.”
Diane Greenlees, Head of Foundation and Graduate Apprenticeships at Skills Development Scotland said: “Scottish Apprenticeship Week is a great opportunity to highlight the benefits of the range of apprenticeships on offer to young people. Foundation Apprenticeships equip young people with the qualifications, experience and skills that employers want. They give young people a head-start to a career in the industry they want to work in and are also recognised qualifications for admission to college and university courses across Scotland.”
Perth College UHI has offered Foundation Apprenticeships to pupils across the region for four years, after taking part in the pilot programme in 2015.
Applications are open for August 2018. Perth College UHI offers eight different courses through the Foundation Apprenticeship programme, which are available to those pupils who are staying at school for S5 and S6. The courses on offer are Engineering, Civil Engineering, Social Services (Children and Young People), Business Skills, Accounting, Food and Drink Operations, Creative and Digital Media and Scientific Technologies.