Apprenticeship Programme
There are a range of Apprenticeship opportunities for existing and new employees such as a Modern Apprenticeship in Social Services, Joinery, Accounting, Plumbing or Engineering to a Graduate Apprenticeship in Business Management or IT. But there are lots more!
What types of Apprenticeships are available?
These are opportunities for secondary school pupils, S5 and S6 (age 15-17). Young people gain real world work experience and access work-based learning whilst still at school. The work placement will usually take place within the school academic year and the duration depends on the framework chosen, but typically equates to approximately one full day per week over 30 weeks. The apprenticeship is the same level of learning as a Higher (which equates to Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework SCQF6). Click here for the SCQF Interactive framework for more details on learning levels. What Foundation Apprenticeships are available? There are 12 subjects available: Accountancy, Business Skills, Civil Engineering, Creative and Digital Media, Engineering, Financial Services, Food and Drink Technologies, ICT Hardware and System Support, ICT Software Development, Scientific Technologies, Social Services and Healthcare, Social Services Children and Young People. Click here for more information. NESCOL is currently our learning provider partner. What are the benefits of Foundation Apprenticeships? Foundation Apprenticeships offer a first step to a future career with the Council. The Council gains new skills and fresh thinking, providing an opportunity to grow the future skills and talent of your service. A Foundation Apprenticeship could lead to a Modern Apprenticeship. How long do they take? Foundation Apprenticeships can be done over 2 years (5th and 6th Year) or over a year. What do they cost? There is no cost to the Council for Foundation Apprenticeships, they are fully funded through Skills Development Scotland. The work experience which the student undertakes as part of the apprenticeship, is unpaid. Skills Development Scotland cover any direct costs for the pupil such as travel. |
Modern Apprenticeships offer people aged over 16 an employment and a training programme. They are available to existing employees in certain job roles or to new employees, where you could recruit someone to a role on a Modern Apprenticeship. What Apprenticeships are available? There are over 80 Modern Apprenticeship frameworks available, including:
Visit Skills Development Scotland for all available frameworks. Modern Apprenticeships are usually at Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework, SCQF levels 5-7, depending on the chosen framework. Some Apprenticeships gain an industry recognised qualification such a Electricians. Click here for the SCQF Interactive framework for more details on learning levels. There are some entry requirements, depending on the framework chosen. Talent Acquisition can assist with choosing a framework and selecting a training provider. What are the benefits of a Modern Apprenticeship? Modern apprenticeships attract fresh talent to the Council whilst delivering flexible and tailored training to meet the needs of your service. They allow you to upskill existing employees which will improve the quality of your service and help retain talent. They can be the start of a young person’s career path and could lead to a permanent role or potentially a Graduate Apprenticeship in the future. How long do they take? It depends on the framework and level undertaken but Modern Apprenticeships generally take 1-2 years but some may take up to 3 years. What do they cost? The Service pays the salary of an apprentice (may be an existing employee). The minimum pay for an apprentice is the national living wage. The Scottish Government contributes towards the cost of Modern Apprenticeship training via Skills Development Scotland (SDS). The level of contribution depends on the age of the apprentice and the framework and level chosen. An enhanced funding contribution is paid for employees who are aged 16 – 19. For those who are disabled and care-experienced, this is extended up to and including age 29. See here for the current Modern Apprenticeship Contribution Tables. |
These provide a new way to study at degree level. They are open both to existing employees in certain roles or to new employees where you could recruit someone to a role on a Graduate Apprenticeship. The employee applies their learning to work based problems and projects.
Our current learning provider partners are the Robert Gordon University and the University of Aberdeen.
What Graduate Apprenticeships are available?
Robert Gordon University offer the following Graduate Apprenticeships:
- BSc (Hons) IT: Management for Business
- BSc (Hons) IT: Software Development
- BA (Hons) Business Management
- BA (Hons) Business Management: Financial Services
- BSc (Hons) Construction and the Built Environment
- Potential new frameworks for 2019 are Accounting and Data Science
University of Aberdeen offer the following Graduate Apprenticeship from September 2019:
- BEng Civil Engineering
We currently have employees undertaking Graduate Apprenticeships in BSc (Hons) IT Management for Business and BA (Hons) Business Management.
What are the benefits?
Graduate Apprenticeships allow you to develop existing employees and retain skilled employees, providing opportunities for progression. They are also a means of attracting new talent to the Council.
How long do they last?
Graduate Apprenticeships can take up to 4 years.
What do they cost?
The only cost to the Service is the salary (minimum pay is the national living wage) of the apprentice (may be an existing employee). All University fees are fully funded through Skills Development Scotland.
How to establish an Apprenticeship
Consider your skills gaps, hard to fill posts, areas of growth both now and in the future, to determine where apprenticeships could be utilised. Assistance and support with this is available from Talent Acquisition.
Contact the Talent Acquisition Team for assistance with this and identifying a training provider.
Talent Acquisition will assist with the job profile (there are generic apprentice job profiles). For existing employees, changes should be agreed by the service manager, in conjunction with Talent Acquisition. If recruiting a new apprentice, approval should be obtained via the workforce change process, Talent Acquisition can support you with this.
The established process is followed to recruit and select a new apprentice. Many potential applicants will be young people, within the 16-24 age group so consideration must be given to reaching out to schools, colleges and universities. Contact the Talent Acquisition Team who can support you with targeting the relevant audience and appropriate advertising opportunities for the apprenticeship.
Assign a Mentor for the apprentice. This can be their line manager or from elsewhere in the organisation. For assistance with this, contact Talent Acquisition. Arrange appropriate induction programme including roles, responsibilities, training provision, support and setting up of regular 1:1 meetings.
Arrange a review meeting to discuss progress, next steps and any job opportunities.
Have you got a vacancy or hard to fill posts or skills gaps?
If you are considering an apprenticeship scheme, please contact the Talent Acquisition Team in People and Organisation who can support you with this
Click here to return to the main Opportunities Hub page
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