Scotland’s universities are helping people get the skills they need in key growth sectors through Graduate Apprenticeships.
Developed by Skills Development Scotland, in partnership with education and industry, Graduate Apprenticeships have been created to meet the critical skills needs of employers by providing work-based learning opportunities from DipHE up to Master’s degree level.
Development has focused on sectors where there is projected growth and a need for highly skilled employees, with 13 different Graduate Apprenticeships available including Accounting, Civil Engineering, Cyber Security and Data Science.
Universities lead on delivering the training for Graduate Apprentices, which are funded through the Scottish Funding Council, enabling individuals to achieve their degree whilst in a full-time job.
Apprentices spend around 80 per cent of their time on the job with their employer and the rest at university.
Eleven establishments including University of Strathclyde, University of Stirling, University of the Highlands and Islands, Edinburgh Napier and Glasgow Universities are creating partnerships with employers of all sizes who are either looking to upskill existing staff or recruit new talent in order to help them develop a highly skilled workforce.
Glasgow Caledonian University works with 300 employers to deliver Graduate Apprenticeships including engineering firm, Aggreko, where current Graduate Apprentice of the year, Mark Diamond works. Mark spends three and a half days a week at the firm and one day a week studying at Glasgow Caledonian University.
Mark said: “Doing a Graduate Apprenticeship gives you the best of both worlds – you are constantly putting your learning into practice and gaining valuable experience.
“Earning a salary at the same time as going to university to achieve my qualification really takes the pressure off.”
Robert Gordon University supports companies like financial services firm abrdn to upskill its existing workforce.
Twenty-four-year-old Nicole Wallace had already completed a Modern Apprenticeship in Digital Application Support before progressing on to a Graduate Apprenticeship in Business Management at the company.
Being able to put the learning from her course at the University into practice immediately helped accelerate Nicole’s progression from Coordinator to Associate Human Resources Business Partner.
Nicole, of Lochgelly, Fife, said: “Doing a Graduate Apprenticeship boosted my confidence and helped me to build up a network of contacts.
“Having the opportunity through an apprenticeship to learn about the workplace and how a business is made up has been invaluable and opened my eyes to the different options.”
University of the West of Scotland works with building and engineering firms like GRAHAM to develop the company’s talent and meet the sector’s skills needs.
Alexis Smith had already completed an HNC in Civil Engineering when she was offered the Trainee Planner role through a Graduate Apprenticeship with GRAHAM.
Recommendations she produced based on her own assessment of a site project have been implemented in subsequent projects, improving efficiency and saving the company money.
Alexis said: “The highlight of my Graduate Apprenticeship has been learning the job – being able to put into practice what you learn in the classroom is a major benefit.”
Collaboration between universities and industry to profile the benefits of Graduate Apprenticeships and the opportunities available has led to an ongoing programme of joint activity to encourage uptake.
Graduate Apprenticeship information events for employers, young people and their parents and carers regularly take place.
Heriot-Watt University held its first Graduate Apprenticeship Recruitment Fair as part of Scottish Apprenticeship Week last month, with parents and young people able to speak to employers and apprentices from a range of companies including City of Edinburgh Council, Plexus, Will Rudd and Bosch Rexroth.
Glasgow Caledonian University organised a number of events to profile its range of Graduate Apprenticeships during Scottish Apprenticeship Week too, including an employer showcase on the Accounting framework, delivered in partnership with professional body the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).
Representatives from Morgan Stanley and Johnston Carmichael Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers shared their experiences of working with Glasgow Caledonian and ACCA on the delivery of the apprenticeship, which provides a clear pathway to chartered status in just five years, compared to, on average, seven years to complete a degree and ACCA qualification via a more traditional route.
With over 1100 Graduate Apprentices enrolled in Scotland on to the Graduate Apprenticeship in Accounting by the academic year 2021-22, feedback and demand for this training pathway looks set to grow.
To find out more about Graduate Apprenticeships and the help to take on an apprentice visit apprenticeships.scot.
