Discover how Foundation Apprenticeships are providing

High flying Ayrshire teenager Fraser Wallace won a national award and landed a job thanks to a Foundation Apprenticeship.

The 18- year- old successfully completed a Foundation Apprenticeship at Ayrshire College, gaining work- based learning at aviation experts GE Caledonian as part of his qualification.

Now he is able to work, earn and learn by landing a Modern Apprenticeship at the firm this year, after impressing the bosses with his performance and passion for the job. Fraser also won the title of Foundation Apprentice of the Year at the event, a category sponsored by College Development Network

He received both awards in front his employer, college, parents and over 300 guests at a ceremony held at Perth Concert Hall.

The former Greenwood Academy pupil had always wanted to do an apprenticeship as he liked the idea of practical, on- the- job learning while earning.

Fraser, from Irvine, says he was drawn to engineering because of his love of problem solving and working with his hands.

He says: “I chose engineering because it was always something I was interested in. All the people who work here at GE Caledonian are very supportive and, if you ask, they are willing to help you as much as they can.”

Now he urges other teenagers thinking about career options to consider the Foundation Apprenticeships programme.

“It can really help you get where you want in life and what you want to achieve because it’s certainly helped me.

“The biggest benefit was the hands- on skills and contact with employers because that’s invaluable when it comes to interviews and having a foot in the door.”

Stephen McNab of GE Caledonian says: “The impression that Fraser left was an ever- lasting one when he did his work experience with us. He had a genuine interest and passion which came through and it carried him forward to the next stage of his Foundation Apprenticeship.”

GE Caledonian has 600 employees and 27 MAs on its apprentice programme and this set to grow again. Young people from across Ayrshire have become some of the first in Scotland to gain a new, industry- led qualification while at school.

Schools in the area have teamed up with learning providers such as colleges to offer senior pupils Foundation Apprenticeships as a subject choice – so they can get out of the classroom and get work- based learning.

The Foundation Apprenticeships offer a new way for young people to get a head- start on their careers. The apprenticeships are open to pupils in S5 and S6 to choose alongside their other subjects.

They usually take two years to complete and provide a qualification at the same level as a Higher, which is accepted by all of Scotland’s universities and colleges.

There are 12 different types of Foundation Apprenticeship, all based on demand for skills from employers and jobs for the future.

Pupils combine time out of the classroom with a learning provider –