Along with Skills Development Scotland, we're currently working on a new approach to developing qualifications and apprenticeship frameworks, starting with aquaculture.
It will reflect industry good practice and effective strategic networking around learning and skills development, and in the future will also include wider ‘land use’ apprenticeships.
Our initial objective has been to identify what apprentices actually do each day in the workplace, and then to draft a suite of relevant ‘Work Situations’ with help from current and recent trainees. Listing day-to-day tasks and associated activities alongside the knowledge and understanding required to carry them out effectively, they will relate to entry, supervisory and management level roles. The Work Situations also relate to National Occupational Standards, Scottish Vocational Qualifications, job adverts and job descriptions, and survey feedback.
The next phase will be to establish a group of employers to review and finalise the Work Situations and help steer the development of ‘occupational profiles’, apprenticeship standards and frameworks. Another group will help to develop the qualifications for those apprenticeships.