Jim Anderson, Head of External Funding, Glasgow Clyde College

IN the UK, apprenticeships have been around since the 12th century. In the 1980s and 90s, apprenticeship programmes fell out of favour, with young people moving straight into work or on to further education as colleges and universities offered more vocational courses.

In 2010, the Scottish Government established a Modern Apprenticeship programme to support economic development, by enabling individuals to develop skills while in paid employment. Skills Development Scotland (SDS), education providers and employers work in partnership to expand the programme in the hope of filling the skills gap and future-proofing industries across occupations, including retail, plumbing, hospitality, engineering and creative industries.

SDS reports that, each year, more than 25,000 young people start a Modern Apprenticeship, with a target of 30,000 per year by 2020. Latest figures estimate more than 37,000 are working as apprentices. Like many colleges, Glasgow Clyde College supports a number of large firms, SMEs and local employers by providing more than 1,000 Modern Apprenticeships.

The programme offers young people the opportunity to develop skills for the world of work by gaining on-the-job experience while studying, enabling them to start a career with the aptitudes to do the job well.

The benefits are myriad. Many programmes are created and designed with employers to help meet their needs and demands.

In return, employers build a talented, skilled workforce ready to commit to work and bring fresh ideas and thinking as well as an understanding of a company’s ethos and values. Like a traditional apprenticeship, the programme encourages retention, with an inspiring 92% of apprentices staying in work once qualified. 2018 marks the Year of Engineering which Glasgow Clyde College supports. The Engineering Modern Apprenticeship programme is one of the most successful offered by the college. It is undertaken with an employer and leads to an employee moving on to a skills-specific project in the company. This allows the apprentice to fill a skills gap and often leads on to further training or further education while completing the programme.

With more than 80 types of Modern Apprenticeships, it’s easy to find one that suits an employer. For students, the programme offers opportunities in an industry that suits their strengths, preparing them for the world of work. Some 96% of Modern Apprentices say they felt more able to do their job and were positive about their career on completing the programme.

The programme equips young people and the future workforce with the skills and abilities to meet evolving industries and unknown markets. It aims to arm students with the necessary skills to progress on to full-time employment, regardless of background or personal characteristics, and promotes equal and diverse workforces.

It encourages employers and training providers to invest in young people and the re-training of their workforce. The training and high-level qualifications achieved from Scottish Vocational Qualifications training complement the programme, strengthening our place in a growing investment market.We require solid economic growth to ensure future prosperity. The skills gaps is often cited as a block on growth. Providing workplace learning that supports young people and reflects the fast-moving world of work will hopefully encourage students to stay in Scotland, contributing to a growing economy and developing industries and jobs that build a stable and strong economy for the future.