Skills Development Scotland Scottish Apprenticeship Week…Dundee & Angus College Foundation Apprentice Eilidh Riach (16) pictured studying IT Software Development at the CALC Building in ArbroathPicture by Graeme Hart.Copyright Perthshire Picture Agency

Senior pupils in schools across Scotland are developing skills in Digital Technology through Foundation Apprenticeships.

To ensure young people are given the opportunity to develop relevant skills in key growth sectors, SDS has developed 12 different Foundation Apprenticeships to support them.

Last year, over 1200 young people chose a Foundation Apprenticeship alongside other subjects, including three different types covering digital skills.

In the two years since they were introduced, over 250 young people have taken up Foundation Apprenticeships across IT Hardware, IT Software and Creative and Digital Media.

Foundation Apprenticeships give young people the chance to gain valuable, real-world work experience and access work-based learning whilst at school.

Pupils spend a significant amount of time on a work placement supporting their learning towards a qualification at he same level as a Higher, which can be used to help them get into work, a Modern Apprenticeship, Graduate Apprenticeship college or university.

Arbroath teen Eilidh Riach took up a Foundation Apprenticeship in Software Development as one of her school subject choices.

The S5 Arbroath High pupil opted for a Foundation Apprenticeship in Software Development as one of her subject choices.

Two afternoons a week, Eilidh goes to Dundee and Angus College where she’s taught alongside pupils from different schools.

Eilidh said: “I’ve always been interested in software development, so the Foundation Apprenticeship seemed like a great opportunity – it also gave me the chance to experience new places and things.”

With the chance to develop new skills like web development, the 16-year-old believes the apprenticeship is a great way for young people to find out more about the growing world of IT.

Eilidh says that the apprenticeship has taught her so much more than technical skills for an IT career.

She said: “The Foundation Apprenticeship has made me more confident, coming to a new place to try new things. It pushes you outside of your comfort zone.”