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Amplifiying the voices of Scottish employers to widen the vary of apprenticeships will create alternative for all, writes Peter Farrer, Chief Operations Officer at Scottish Water and new Chair of the Scottish Apprenticeship Advisory Board
HAVING had the advantage of working with the operations facet of a enterprise for over 30 years, at Scottish Water, I’ve seen first-hand simply how essential persons are to the success of any organisation.
And it’s one of many the explanation why a brand new position as Chair of the Scottish Apprenticeship Advisory Board’s (SAAB) Group Board was a possibility that spoke to me on many ranges.
Attracting and retaining expertise is the firmest assurance a enterprise can should allow it to flourish – and apprenticeships have been the sturdy basis from which Scottish Water has constructed its technique to get the best folks into its enterprise.
I’ve been capable of watch yesterday’s apprentices develop into tomorrow’s leaders and consultants.
Now, I’m in a lucky place because the Chair of the SAAB Group Board, the place I can lead an distinctive group of individuals and companies to have an effect on coverage and have a constructive affect on Scotland’s expertise and training system.
The aim of SAAB is “to supply employer management to the governance and improvement of apprenticeships in Scotland, in order that they’re aligned with trade and financial want, Honest Work and job alternatives.”
I’m already struck by the breadth and depth of SAAB’s work, having been expertly led by earlier Chair, Alison McGregor, ex-CEO of HSBC. In its time to date, it has shifted the abilities system dial away from being one steered by authorities, in the direction of an employer-driven system, recognising that behind each apprenticeship, is an employer providing a possibility.
I’ve watched it drive the apprenticeship agenda in Scotland, making ministers, coverage makers, educators, younger folks and different employers sit up and be aware of the plain advantages that apprenticeships can carry to everybody concerned.
Current stats printed present that uptake of apprenticeships is heading in the direction of its pre-pandemic stage, which is massively encouraging.
There was a year-on-year enhance in all age teams, with the 16-19 group and 20-24 age group experiencing the most important enhance.
There has additionally been a rise in begins from folks from BME teams and care expertise folks. We additionally know that apprenticeship pathways are positively impacting these from our most disadvantaged areas.
And so, we are able to see that apprenticeships present a win-win outcome for learners and employers – with a job in social justice, supporting younger folks, equality and variety in Scotland.
However there’s additionally a major third ‘win’ – Scotland’s financial system. Apprenticeships present a quicker and higher aligned path to fill expertise gaps and join younger folks with expertise which might be wanted by companies and subsequently the financial system.
Contribution figures are stark. At present, the typical funding in some apprenticeships is round £4,000 per individual in contrast with £32,000 for an equal undergraduate self-discipline.
Not forgetting the important thing level: apprentices earn an actual wage and trade expertise from day one, not like tutorial undergraduate levels.
The Graduate Apprenticeship (GA) instance clearly reveals the similarities – similar diploma and qualification; and the primary distinction – 4 years trade expertise, 4 years incomes a wage with out scholar loans and 4 years contributing to the financial system, within the case of the GA.
Scotland’s Apprentice of the 12 months Jennifer Kolonko
So with the proof being so stark: that apprenticeships are a win-win-win scenario for learners, employers and Scotland and its financial system, why is there nonetheless a lot work to do?
There are complexities and boundaries inside the expertise system.
Firstly, work must be executed to alter the hearts and minds of individuals with the best affect on younger folks firstly of their profession journey, as we all know that there nonetheless exists a level of snobbery which leans in the direction of conventional tutorial training.
Secondly, systemic boundaries exist – present funding is round £2.2bn yearly in tutorial pathways, versus £80m-£100m in apprenticeship pathways – 4% of the full funding.
That is regardless of employers crying out for extra apprenticeships, throughout a wider vary of topics.
Employers clearly recognise the speedy advantages reminiscent of trade expertise, a ‘work-ready’ strategy and the power to be productive to a enterprise from day one.
My imaginative and prescient for SAAB is straightforward: I would like there to be an apprenticeship accessible to each younger individual in Scotland who desires one, and for any employer to have the ability to provide apprenticeships of their area.
The altering world of labor will make employers extra vocal and thru SAAB, I’ll make sure that each employer voice in Scotland is heard – the system simply must assist this and permit the demand for expertise from employers to be the driving drive behind the system.
I actually consider this to be achievable as we proceed to collaborate successfully with Scottish Authorities and its companies. I really feel proud to be a part of this course of.
Discover out extra at sds.co.uk/what-we-do/apprenticeships/the-scottish-apprenticeship-advisory-board
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MAKING an apprenticeship accessible for each younger individual in Scotland is the ambition for Peter Farrer as he takes over as Chair of the Scottish Apprenticeship Advisory Board (SAAB).
The employer-led physique in control of apprenticeships in Scotland has appointed the enterprise chief to guide its group of trade consultants.
Peter, Scottish Water’s Chief Working Officer, takes on the position to guide the strategic course of the Board’s 5 teams, which function as ‘the voice of trade on apprenticeships in Scotland’.
It comes at an essential stage within the evolution of the abilities panorama, with employers now positioned firmly on the centre of the apprenticeship system. SAAB now lead on the requirements and frameworks and general governance of apprenticeships in Scotland, making certain that they’re trade–owned.
The appointment comes following the departure of Alison McGregor, former CEO of HSBC in Scotland, who stood as Chair for 4 years.
Peter brings with him over three many years of trade expertise and experience within the area of apprenticeships, having been central to the event of Scottish Water’s folks technique which utilises apprenticeships as a mannequin of creating expertise.
He stated: “I would like there to be an apprenticeship accessible to each younger one who desires to do one in Scotland, and for any employer to have the ability to provide apprenticeships of their area. This will likely be on the coronary heart of the Scottish Apprenticeship Advisory Board’s technique going ahead.
“I’m now proud to be within the place the place I may help to guide such an distinctive group of individuals and companies to make sure apprenticeships get the popularity they deserve.”
“Plans are underway to refresh the SAAB’s technique for the subsequent two years and determine key areas of labor which is able to assist proceed to strengthen the employer voice in apprenticeships and guarantee efficient collaboration of all our bodies concerned in Scotland’s expertise system.
Mike Cantlay, Chair of Scottish Funding Council, the company which funds schools, universities and works with Abilities Growth Scotland to collectively fund and ship Basis and Graduate Apprenticeships in Scotland, stated: “Peter is a welcome addition to the already distinctive membership which is the SAAB. This heralds a brand new section of collaboration between the Apprenticeship Board and its companions reminiscent of Scottish Funding Council, Abilities Growth Scotland and Scottish Authorities.”
Frank Mitchell, CEO of Scottish Energy Power Networks and Chair of Abilities Growth Scotland stated: “SAAB has been massively profitable and has created a robust ‘employer-led’ platform for the long run progress and improvement of apprenticeships in Scotland.
“We shouldn’t underestimate or undersell the gap travelled by the Board to date – with because of Alison McGregor as outgoing Chair, for her skilled management to date. SAAB are one of many few, actually unbiased, employer-led our bodies, providing a genuinely genuine employer voice. I stay up for seeing Peter proceed this exceptional work.”
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