Since being one of the first colleges to offer Foundation Apprenticeships through the original pilot scheme back in 2014, West Lothian College has been growing provision year on year, offering opportunities to more school aged children.
For 2019, the college will offer Foundation Apprenticeships in 9 different subject areas, including Civil Engineering, Engineering, IT Software, Healthcare and Children & Young People. 2019 will also see a growth in the already successful partnership with West Lothian Council, with additional frameworks Business Skills, Creative & Digital Media, Scientific Technologies and Food & Drink Technologies having a delivery base within schools but still incorporating the college experience through lecturer provision and regular sessions in college. There are a range of one and two year options available to suit those in 5th or 6th year.
Foundation Apprenticeships are equivalent in level to a Higher but bigger and broader in their reach and the size of achievement that can be attained. They help bridge the gap between the classroom and the world of work, giving young people access to hands on work experience whilst still at school. The frameworks combine qualifications delivered within the college and schools with industry visits and work experience in a local organisation related to their course, helping young people to boost their CVs and get a head start in their career when they leave school.
Daniel Evans, Head of Foundation Apprenticeships at West Lothian College said: “We are delighted to be able to offer an increased provision of Foundation Apprenticeships to young people in West Lothian for 2019.
More than doubling our intake from 2018 shows the true commitment of the college and local authority in creating vocational opportunities for these young people, offering them an excellent qualification combined with real work experience through this exciting equal yet different pathway in to a positive destination”
Applications for Foundation Apprenticeship programmes starting in 2019 open in December 2018. For more information, click here.