Edinburgh College FOUNDATION APPRENTICESHIPS 2020 – 22 For the future you want FOUNDATION APPRENTICESHIP FOUNDATION APPRENTICESHIP CONTENTS ABOUT About . .3 COURSES Frequently asked questions . .4 Accountancy . .10 EC student stories . .5 Business Skills . 12 Civil Engineering . .14 Creative and Digital Media: Broadcast Media . .16 A Foundation Apprenticeship Creative and Digital Media: Graphic Design . 18 prepares you for the world of Engineering . .20 work and gives you more choices Financial Services . .22 when you leave school: Food and Drink Technologies . .24 IT: Software Development . 26 Scientific Technologies (Laboratory skills) . .28 Social Services and Healthcare . 30 Fast track Go straight onto a Modern College or A Graduate into a Career Apprenticeship University Apprenticeship You will get real-life work Learn on the job Gain an industry accredited Take your studies to a experience with top employers Get valuable industry qualification alongside your higher level. You will Gain the skills employers want experience school studies to enhance your already have experience college or UCAS application learning through work You will complete units from a Modern Apprenticeship which Progress to college to study a Earn while you learn will give you a head start HNC or to university to study a degree in a related subject. Fast track on to a Modern Apprenticeship by completing Foundation Apprenticeships parts of the qualification are recognised by all Scottish during your Foundation universities as a equivalent Apprenticeship studies to an SQA Higher Foundation Apprenticeship are recognised by all Scottish Colleges as equivalent to a Higher and can often offer direct entry to a HNC in a related subject. More info 2 edinburghcollege.ac.uk/fa 3 FOUNDATION APPRENTICESHIP FOUNDATION APPRENTICESHIP FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS EC STUDENT STORIES What is a Foundation Apprenticeship? How do I get to and from the college? At Edinburgh College our students come from far and We define amazing as not only achieving awards or Foundation Apprenticeships (FAs) are work-based qualifications Your travel to and from college and work placement is fully wide. Every student that comes to the College has a accolades, but overcoming personal and social challenges for senior-phase secondary school pupils in industry sectors funded. Travel will be arranged by your school and Local unique story to tell and helps make us who we are. We while achieving your dreams. Below are real students of key growth. It’s a qualification that takes you out of the Authority and paid for by Skills Development Scotland. have students who achieve amazing things at the College. who were happy to share their amazing stories. classroom and gets your foot in the door with an employer. Why should I study a FA? You can choose a Foundation Apprenticeship as one of your subjects ¾ Try out a career path while you are still at school in S5 or S6, it’s the same level of learning as a Higher (SCQF Level 6). ¾ Boost your CV or UCAS application with real industry experiences There are currently 10 courses available for ¾ Develop transferable skills like leadership, teamwork, Michael Suttie – IT: Software application at Edinburgh College: communication to enable you to better meet the demands Development Apprentice ¾ Accountancy of undergraduate study and the world of work Eighteen-year-old Michael Suttie from Mayfield recently ¾ Get a foot in the door with some of Scotland’s biggest employers ¾ Business Skills completed a Foundation Apprenticeship in IT Software ¾ Civil Engineering ¾ Make industry contacts and receive career Development, which he decided to undertake so he could develop ¾ Creative and Digital Media guidance from an industry mentor his computing skills, and make contacts working in the industry. ¾ Engineering ¾ Step into an exciting and growing industry that needs skilled people ¾ Financial Services Where could it take me? I decided to do the FA in IT Software Development ¾ Food and Drink Technologies as a way to further develop my skills in computing, ¾ University. All Scottish Universities recognise become better connected with those in the industry and ¾ IT: Software Development FAs as equivalent to SQA Higher. get a feel for computing in the working environment. ¾ Scientific Technologies (Laboratory Skills) ¾ College. FAs give you direct entry or count as entry ¾ Social Services and Healthcare criteria to HNC courses at all Scottish Colleges. I’m currently enrolled on the HND Software Development Course at the College’s Sighthill How does it work? ¾ Modern Apprenticeship (MA) – You could progress on to a MA where you will be employed and paid to complete a Scottish Campus. Where I end up after that, whether it be A Foundation Apprenticeship counts as one of your S5 Vocational Qualification (SVQ). As the FA includes SVQ units university or work, I’ll need to see closer to the time. course choices and it takes 2 years to complete. from the MA syllabus you will already have a head start. Pupils typically attend college 2 afternoons per week in year 1 and ¾ Graduate Apprenticeship (GA) – You could progress on to a GA undertake an extended work placement with a local employer in year where your employer will pay for you to study for a degree. 2. It is the responsibility of the College to organise work placements. ¾ Direct Employment – with your FA qualification and work You will be also involved in employability activities experience you are more attractive to employers. such as talks from employers, industry challenges, site visits, mock interviews and CV workshops! How do I apply? Cameron Smith – Financial One year delivery option might be available for selected course. Applications open online in February. To receive more information, please contact the FA team. If you’re interested, talk to your guidance teacher or career Services Apprentice adviser at school to discuss if this is the right route for you. Seventeen-year-old Cameron completed a five week Who is the FA for? work placement at Scotia Wealth Management, which To find out more information about each course or to submit Foundation Apprenticeships are designed for pupils entering he says has been incredibly valuable experience. S5 who are capable of learning at Higher level, enjoy an application, please visit the Edinburgh College website: edinburghcollege.ac.uk/fa learning in a practical way and want to develop their skills, Choosing the apprenticeship in place of a subject offered experience, and knowledge in a real work environment. Contact Details me a chance to get an insight into the world of work which Pupils applying for the course should be those that The Foundation Apprenticeship Team are happy to help and answer traditionally wouldn’t have been possible through school. wish to continue until the end of S6, as a Foundation any specific questions you may have about the programme. Apprenticeship is a two year programme. It was definitely a good decision – I’ve really Email: [email protected] broadened my knowledge of the financial industry. Is there an exam at the end of it? Phone: 0131 297 8037 No, there is no final exam at the end of the course. You are To find out more about Foundation Apprenticeships The apprenticeship has not only given Cameron assessed on a unit by unit basis and will achieve the qualification please visit Apprenticeships.Scot. knowledge of the financial industry but also helped by obtaining a pass in each unit assessment. You will complete him decide the career path he wants to follow. a portfolio of work during your placement and you will have a workplace mentor to guide you. The portfolio will be marked by a workplace assessor provided by the college. More info To read more stories visit 4 edinburghcollege.ac.uk/studentstories 5 Foundation Apprenticeship to degree opportunity How to read this table: ✓ The university offers a degree in this subject area Please ★ The university offers enhanced recognition if applying for a degree check with in the same subject area (e.g. FA Accountancy into Degree Accountancy) universities specific ● The university doesn’t offer a degree in this subject area, FA recognised for as a Higher towards other subjects (e.g. FA Accountancy into Degree Engineering) details X The university does not recognise FA frameworks in this subject area AccountancyBusiness CivilSkills EngineeringCreative &Engineering Digital MediaFinancial FoodServices & DrinkICT TechnologiesHardwareICT Software Scientific ChildrenTechnologies &Healthcare Young People (FA in this subject area is not recognised as a Higher towards same/other subjects) University Recognition Abertay University 1 Higher A, ★ 2 Highers B ✓ ★ ✓ ★ ✓ ★ ✓ ★ ✓ ★ ✓ ★ ✓ ★ ✓ ★ ✓ ★ ✓ ★ ✓ ★ ✓ ★ Edinburgh Napier University 1 Higher A ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Glasgow Caledonian University 1 Higher A ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Glasgow School of Art 1 Higher A ● ● ✓ ✓ ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Heriot Watt University 1 Higher A ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ● ✓ ✓ ● ✓ Open University Open Recognition ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Queen Margaret University Edinburgh 1 Higher A ✓ ✓ ● ✓ ● ✓ ● ● ● ✓ ✓ ✓ Robert Gordon University 1 Higher B, ★ 2 Highers B ✓ ★ ✓ ★ ✓ ★ ✓ ★ ✓ ★ ✓ ★ ● ✓ ★ ✓ ★ ✓ ★ ✓ ★ ✓ ★ Royal Conservatoire of Scotland 1 Higher A ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Scotland’s Rural College 1 Higher A ✓ ✓ ● ● ● ✓ ● ● ● ✓ ● ● University of Aberdeen³ 1 Higher B ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ● ✓ ✓ ● ● ● University of Dundee1 1 Higher A ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ● ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ University of Edinburgh 1 Higher B X X ✓ X ✓ X X X ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ University of Glasgow2