Foundation Apprenticeships are a work-based learning opportunity for senior-phase secondary school pupils. Young people spend time out of school at college or with a local employer, and complete the Foundation Apprenticeship alongside their other subjects like National 5s and Highers. It’s a chance to get valuable work experience and gain an industry recognised qualification. It also lets young people try out a career they are interested in while still at school.
Lasting two years, pupils typically begin their Foundation Apprenticeship in S5:
- In year one, learners will study a National Progression Awards (NPA) or National Certificate (NC) at SCQF Level 6 with a college or learning provider.
- In year two, focus then moves to developing practical skills and competencies in the workplace, where learners attend an employer placement.
Of the 12 current Foundation Apprenticeship frameworks, nine have been identified of being potentially relevant to land-based and aquaculture organisations: Accountancy,
Business Skills, Civil Engineering, Creative and Digital Media, Engineering, Food and Drink Technologies, Hardware and System Support, Scientific Technologies and Software Development.
As well as gaining valuable work-based experience making the young person more employable, Foundation Apprenticeships can help with progression to a Modern or Graduate Apprenticeship, and are recognised for entry to all Scottish universities and colleges.
Benefits to your business
- Gain new skills and fresh thinking by accessing a new generation of talent
- Fast-track your talent development young people get to know your business so if you chose to recruit, they have gained useful working knowledge and can complete their Modern Apprenticeship faster
- Reduce recruitment costs by accessing a brand-new talent pipeline of skills for your business and raise the profile of your business to emerging talent
- Support existing staff development opportunities
- Retain skills by enabling succession planning for an ageing workforce
Ways you can get involved
Industry Talks
Providing a talk to a class of learners on key aspects of your role will help to raise awareness of your industry overall and contextualise learning through 'real life' experience.
Workplace Visits
By connecting with learning providers and supporting visits to your workplace, learners will have a greater understanding of the practical working environment.
Work Placements
The work-based element of the programme is typically 240-300 hours, depending on the framework, with the majority of placements being either one day per week or block release. During placement, learners must be assigned real work activities to support the achievement of their vocational units, assessed by the learning provider.
Industry Challenges/Projects
Providing a work-related challenge to learners allows them to apply their technical skills and knowledge in a practical context, with employers able to provide mentoring support throughout.
Email us to find out more or call 01738 310164.