MSP drops in to college campus
Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Dean Lockhart visited Forth Valley College’s Stirling Campus last week.
He was welcomed on the day by principal Dr Ken Thomson and was there to find out more about foundation Apprenticeships, meet some of the students and tour the facilities.
The visit focussed mainly on the staff and students in the clinical skills suite who were demonstrating using equipment such as hoists, showing off First Aid techniques and working on their SVQ/NPA folders in breakout areas.
Mr Lockhart, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work, said:“The innovative approaches to delivering apprenticeships undertaken by the college, are genuinely impressive and will help to transform the perception of apprenticeships as a way into the workplace. Apprenticeships aren’t just for traditional trades.
“Being able to gain real-world work experience can transform a pupil’s career prospects. Foundation Apprenticeships allow pupils to spend a part of their school week gaining hands-on experience and can lead directly to a full time job.
Grant McDougall, Skills Development Scotland head of operations for the south east said: “There’s no better time to find out about how apprenticeships could bring benefits to your business, or about the career pathways they can provide to young people. Visit apprenticeships.scot or a Skills Development Scotland centre to find out more.”
The innovative programmes, being offered in partnership with Falkirk, Stirling and Clackmannanshire schools, will link senior school pupils with local employers and aim to help them build their future careers. Upon completion of a foundation apprenticeship pupils can progress onto a modern apprenticeship, college study or a university degree.
In academic year 2018-2019, Foundation Apprenticeships will be available at FVC in social services and healthcare; social services children and young people; business skills; IT hardware system support ; engineering; accountancy; civil engineering; creative and digital media; food and drink operations; and scientific technologies (laboratory skills). All are due to start in August 2018 and applications went live for the FA courses in January 2018.
For emore details email: schools. co-ordinator@forthvalley.ac.uk , call 01324 403211 or visit www. forthvalley.ac.uk/FA.