Getting practical experience in a job is one of the most important parts of starting out in the world of work.
Learning all the facts about a role is all well and good but, like driving, you only begin to properly learn the craft once you’re actually out there, doing it for real.
I think that’s why Scotland’s modern apprenticeship schemes work so well. They provide real, vocational learning experiences that give you a great headstart – and set you up with skills you’ll have for life.
What better time to celebrate our success, and to encourage more businesses to take on apprentices, than in Scottish Apprenticeship Week which runs this week, 5 to 9 March?
Scotland’s apprenticeship schemes offer vocational experience and industry-recognised qualifications to senior school pupils, and paid positions and training opportunities up to Masters level for existing employees.
There are currently 80 different types of modern apprenticeship scheme out there, backed up by a target of 30,000 Scottish apprenticeship places running, each year, by 2020.
But it’s not about reaching an arbitrary target, with no consideration given to the sectors and businesses involved.
Each apprenticeship scheme is developed in partnership with the industry. It’s offered in response to the growth and development of a particular sector, and complements changes in the shifting economic climate. And most importantly, it will provide people with the skills they need to help them find the jobs they want.
Run by Skills Development Scotland (SDS), Scottish Apprenticeship Week 2018 is focused on encouraging more businesses to take on a modern apprentice before the end of the year.
To help raise awareness, the Scottish Sun is encouraging companies to sign up to this Apprenticeship Employer Promise. Today, Scottish Power will be hosting a Future Skills and Apprenticeships conference for employers who want to find out more about the benefits of the scheme.
It’s abundantly clear what these schemes offer apprentices – and it shows.
In a recent survey carried out by SDS, modern apprentices said their opportunity had helped them secure work at a higher level, get paid more, and take on a job with more responsibilities.
Individuals also reckoned that the apprenticeship had a positive impact on their skills and abilities, improved their ability to do their job, their communication skills and how they work with others.
Apprentices also said they had benefitted from increased confidence, become more enthusiastic about learning, and had created better career prospects for themselves.
So, it’s great news for them. But what’s in it for an employer?
Apprenticeship schemes bring in people who are motivated and eager to learn – they’ve chosen the scheme because they want to do the job, so they’ll be engaged with the task at hand.
It’s not just training for the sake of it though. It’s tailored to the industry, your business, and to the apprentice themselves.
In an SDS survey of employers who had taken on apprentices, 75 per cent reported improved productivity, 72 per cent reported improved staff morale, and 71 per cent reported an improved product or service quality.
There are a lot of businesses out there just now that are doing really well with their apprenticeship schemes. Livingston-based Esh Construction has a dedicated facility – the Esh Academy – which was set up to recruit and nurture apprenticeships according to the needs of the business.
Esh Group now offers 15 different apprenticeship pathways across a range of disciplines and has worked with more than 150 apprentices since 2013.
Taking on an apprentice can really add another dimension to your business. The experience you provide will help them grow into experienced and valued members of the team – and their success will show that you’re helping build the workforce of the future.
I noticed the big push is on to enrol participants for the Simplyhealth Great Women’s Run which takes place in Glasgow in June.
It’s the biggest women-only running event in the city and will see thousands take to the streets of the West End to kick off the 10k challenge.
A group of ten army wives hit the headlines last week after joining forces to take on the challenge for charity.
It’s a great idea. I hope the move will inspire others to follow suit and create their own ‘superteams’.
Think of it as the ultimate teambuilding activity.
How many times have you sat at work and been encouraged to take part in a cheesy bonding exercise? I’ve heard them all.
‘Trust falls’, meditation circles and roleplay exercises are still ever-popular. One woman I know was once asked to attach herself to a difficult client with a piece of string so they’d be forced to work together to devise an ‘escape plan’.
Well forget all that. Here’s a workplace activity you can undertake that can make a real difference, not only in teambuilding, but by going beyond that too.
It’s a chance to raise funds, and awareness, for some brilliant charities at the same time.
Partner charities include Mind, the mental health charity, Cancer Research UK, Breast Cancer Care Scotland, and STV Children’s Appeal.
It Made Me Laugh
Scots are renowned for being resourceful and during last week’s snow it was proven once again.
More than 400 schools were shut, flights were grounded, and trains were cancelled, making it a nightmare for people trying to get to work.
But one hardy fellow decided not to let the blizzard get the better of him – and strapped on a pair of skis for his commute.
Now that’s not a sight you see every day. Or ever for that matter!
Not only did he make his journey easier, he earned himself celebrity status at the same time. His picture went viral on social media and he’s been hailed a genius.
Too right – that kind of off-piste thinking is to be applauded for its ingenuity.
It Made Me Weep
At a time when environmentalists are pushing for more Scots to use public transport, it’s sad to see the number of people using buses is on the decline.
Passenger numbers released by Transport Scotland show they have dropped by 10 per cent in just five years.
To a certain extent it’s not a surprise though. Fleet sizes are dwindling, yet fares are increasing, so it doesn’t particularly boost the appeal of buses for many.
Friends of the Earth’s air pollution campaigner is now urgently calling for more investment in sustainable transport so less people rely on cars.
The Scottish government might be spending more than £250million a year supporting the use of buses but sadly, it might still not be enough.
