VIEWS are being sought across Scotland’s engineering sector to help support the development of a new apprenticeship to meet sector skills needs.
The design and development of apprenticeships across Scotland are currently being reviewed through a new industry-led approach to ensure skills and qualifications are fit for purpose and for the future.
Representatives from across the engineering sector have been working to develop the engineering apprenticeship. Skills Development Scotland, via its partner Enginuity, is now seeking feedback from employers of all sizes on the apprenticeship through an online survey. The survey will take around 45 minutes to complete and will ask for feedback on the content of the apprenticeship and the skills which are relevant.
Anyone with an interest in the engineering apprenticeship can take part in the survey, especially employers, employees, or stakeholders including trade bodies, trade unions, awarding bodies, and training providers.
Philip Carruthers, training coordinator at Doosan, participated in the Technical Expert Group (TEG) to develop the apprenticeship. He said, “Participation in the TEG has been a rewarding experience to meet with a varied group from across all sectors of engineering activities to develop a new apprenticeship standard and framework. The approach of looking at what current work situations are then developing the skills and knowledge requirements has been a novel and refreshing approach. The work carried out by Enginuity in leading the TEG has been professional and well supported by the TEG members.”
Scott Caden from Rolls Royce also supported the development. He added, “The TEG group format for reviewing the Scottish Modern Apprenticeship worked incredibly well in my opinion. To get all those contrasting aspects on engineering in a room really helped understand what the challenges are throughout the sector. It also helped bring companies together from a networking point of view. Personally, myself and Rolls Royce Inchinnan would be delighted to be involved in similar projects, and would recommend this format for reaching out and generating ideas from all aspects of engineering and manufacturing.”
Neil Hardie, group service manager at farm machinery and groundcare equipment supplier Thomas Sherriff & Co Ltd, commented, “I have found that the TEG experience has been very beneficial in looking at all aspects of engineering apprenticeships in Scotland and has been key for our business to have a voice in how engineering apprenticeships can be developed to provide us with trained engineers that are suitable for our business needs now and in the future.”
