Degree of success for apprentice Nicole

Student can study without giving up day job

A student at Paisley’s Uni is working towards the degree she’s always wanted – without giving up her job.

Twenty- two- year- old Nicole Strain, from Bishopton, started out working with Mail Marketing Scotland as a Modern Apprentice three years ago.

And she was keen to take her learning in software development up a level.

She said: “When I completed my Modern Apprenticeship, I considered applying for a full-time software development course at UWS, who told me about the Graduate Apprenticeship.

“I passed this information on to my line manager, who was really interested, as it meant I wouldn’t have to leave my job but it would also give me the opportunity to learn new skills which then could be applied in the workplace.”

The aim of Graduat e Apprenticeships is to let individuals study towards a degree at the same time as working in a full-time job.

Nicole works as a software developer, where her job involves reviewing and maintaining current systems within the business, writing programme code, and helping to produce new products.

And now she is working towards a degree in IT software development.

And due to her previous experience, Nicole was granted accelerated entry into the course.

She’s now in the third year of her degree, and is able to pursue her higher education dreams while still earning an income.

She said: “Being able to work full-time while getting a graduatelevel education is the best of both worlds.

“The academics at UWS are so helpful, and the apprenticeship has been a fantastic experience.”

Nicole’s manager and mentor Chris Kinnaird says that the Graduate Apprentice programme has been a great opportunity for the company too.

He said: “One of the attractions of the Graduate Apprenticeship was being able to get that further education for Nicole, and build on what we’d already done through the Modern Apprenticeship.

“She’s surrounded by the academics in what should be the latest and greatest in terms of that area of expertise.

“We hope that Nicole can tap into that herself, and from a business perspective, we’ll benefit from that.

“She’ll get exposure to different ways of doing things, and so will we as a result.”

The c u r re nt Scottish Apprenticeship Week is the nationwide campaign aimed at encouraging more employers to take on apprentices.

Organised by Skills Development Scotland ( SDS), the campaign theme for 2018 is ‘Apprenticeships are the Business’.

Employers will get the chance top learn about the benefits of workbased learning from apprentices and businesses through activities and events that will take place nationwide.

SDS chief executive Damien Yeates, said: “Scottish Apprenticeship Week highlights the commitment of businesses who have decided to invest in the skills of their workforce.

“It also shows the success of individuals who have chosen work- based learning through an apprenticeship to get a qualification and develop their careers.

“From Shetland to the Borders, employers across Scotland are seeing the business benefits of taking on apprentices.

“With support from Skills Development Scotland and new types of apprenticeships available this year, there’s never been a better time to get involved in work-based learning.” CALL FOR MORE 0903 658 2008 AUGUST 23 - SEPTEMBER 22 CALL FOR MORE 0903 658 2009 SEPTEMBER 23 - OCTOBER 23