1. Making skills work for employers
Work-based learning
Making skills work for employers

2. Why is Work Based Learning important ? International evidence
The Vision
Policy Drivers
DYW (2014)
Youth Employment Strategy
Opportunities for All
Scotland’s Economic Strategy (2015)
Enterprise & Skills Agency Review (2016 onwards)
Industry / Skills 4.0
Why is Work Based Learning important ?
Despite record levels of investment in education and training, youth unemployment rates in Scotland remain high, ranking 21st of the 35 OECD countries that measure the economic potential of young people.
International evidence
International research evidence suggests that advanced economies that demonstrate a better balance of academic and work based approaches to skills development reap economic rewards, particularly in terms of higher levels of youth employment.
Despite record levels of investment in education and training, youth unemployment rates in Scotland have remained high in recent years. We also have significant skills shortages reported by industry with more projected and as just mentioned a changing shape to the skills required in the next decade.
The youth workers index published by PWC in October 2016 – measures how well OECD countries are developing the economic potential of their young workers.
In this index the UK ranks in the bottom half - in 2015 the UK ranked 21st out of 35 countries – this was the same ranking as in 2006 with no improvement in a decade.
If we look at the top ranking and performing countries - their education systems have a strong focus on work based learning and vocational training alongside school.
International research evidence, demonstrates that advanced economies that demonstrate a better balance of academic and work based approaches to learning and skills development reap economic rewards, particularly in terms of higher levels of youth employment.

3. OECD attributes of successful learning systems
If we look at the top ranking and performing OECD countries - their education systems have a strong focus on work based learning and vocational training alongside school.
They also have strong leadership from employers across a range of industries – employers that have expanded their youth employment programmes and invested in structured apprenticeship schemes to provide attractive alternatives to higher education.
While Scotland has a different history and context to these other countries, the attributes that make work based approaches within their education and learning systems successful - can be applied in a Scottish context.
Strong Work Based Learning Systems have a number of attributes:
They Meet the Needs of Young People by providing coherent work based learning pathways that start in secondary school level or even earlier, and go on to higher degree level
They are responsive to labour market needs and have strong industry leadership to ensure that work based learning at all stages along the pathway is designed by and with employers to meet employer needs
For example if we look at 2 of the top ranking countries:
Germany’s apprenticeship system is characterised by a high degree of employer engagement and ownership. Typically around ¼ of German employers (half a million companies) participate each year.
And in Switzerland, roughly 1/3 of employers provide apprenticeship places – a significant figure bearing in mind that over 99% of Switzerland’s employers are SMEs.

4. The Apprenticeship family
Foundation Apprenticeships
Modern Apprenticeships
Graduate Level Apprenticeships
There is evidence to show that strong systems of work-based learning contribute to:
Low unemployment
Fewer skills shortages - and
High economic growth
So how are we strengthening work based learning pathways here in Scotland.
Apprenticeships in Scotland are changing -
Building on the successful Modern Apprenticeship programme, SDS has been working with Scottish Government, Industry, education and training providers to extend the apprenticeships family with the introduction of new Foundation and Graduate level apprenticeships.
These new developments are designed based on what the top ranking and performing countries are doing well
and they are designed to help support Scotland in its ambition to be a top quartile performer in the future.
Taken together Foundation, Modern and Graduate Level apprenticeships offer work based learning pathways for individuals in Scotland with multiple entry and exit points that will support career progression in key industries.
apprenticeships.scot

5. Foundation Apprenticeships
For senior phase pupils S5-S6
Work-based learning typically over 2 years
Delivery partnerships with schools, colleges, training providers and employers
Work based learning at SCQF Level 6
Deliver elements of a Modern Apprenticeship
Provide industry recognised qualifications
Offer multiple progression pathways – into work including fast-track entry to a related MA, into a GLA, FE or HE
And now for a quick update on Foundation Apprenticeships. So what are they? They are :
An exciting new work based learning qualification for young people in the senior phase of secondary school – they are one of a young persons choices within their senior phase curriculum and they are taken alongside other school subjects
They are designed to provide a high quality work based learning experience for young people and deliver a combination of the Knowledge, skills and competence that is needed for career progression in key industries before leaving school
They are developed and delivered in partnerships between education and employers shaped and supported by SDS – young people undertaking a foundation apprenticeship spend part of their time in school, in college and in the workplace
They are based on successful MA frameworks designed by industry – they provide learning that is directly relevant to getting a job – and they ensure the work readiness of young people earlier by enabling them to complete elements of a Modern Apprenticeship while still at school.
Foundation apprenticeships are designed to benefit young people and the economy by expanding the range of progression opportunities and pathways for young people to choose from when leaving school to pursue their future career   
On completion of a foundation apprenticeship young people are better prepared and have the skills and experience to go :
Directly into a job
For accelerated progression on to a related Modern Apprenticeship as they will already have completed the foundation elements while still at school
For progression on to a graduate level apprenticeship
or to continue on to further learning at University or College

6. Where Are we Now?
13 key growth sectors have been identified as suitable for FA development based on skills planning data . 10 are currently available and the remaining 3 will be available for AY 2018/19
Future development or revision of frameworks will be driven by industry demand through the SAAB.
There has been significant development and expansion of FAs over the last few years
The number of industry designed FA Frameworks has expanded from 1 to 10.
In 2014 there was 1 pilot framework available in Engineering
In 2015 a further 4 pilot frameworks were developed in key sectors taking the total to 5
From August 2016 delivery is covering a total of 8 FA Frameworks – all approved by industry and SQA in line with the approved FA product design specification
A further 2 FA Frameworks – Creative and Digital Media and Laboratory Skills will be available from August 2017.
And three further Frameworks are being developed for 2018 delivery; Food & Drink (Operations), Accountancy and Construction (Technical).
All Foundation apprenticeships are being developed in key growth sectors of the economy where there will be demand for future jobs.
There have been a number of other important developments in the last year that will be important to the future success and expansion of FAS
And to ensure that FAs are seen as a valued and equivalent qualification alongside the more traditional and understood qualification in the senior phase of education. One of these is

7. There has been significant expansion of FAs over the last few years evidencing the value being placed on FAs by young people and employers across Scotland.
This expansion has been achieved through developing regional partnerships between schools, colleges, training providers and industry to lead the delivery and expansion of foundation apprenticeships – many partners are in the room today.
From the initial 2 pathfinders starting in August 2014 – to the planned delivery from August 2017 – there has been :
An Increase in the number of Colleges engaged in delivery from 2 to 25.
An Increase in the number of Local Authorities engaged in delivery from 2 to 32.
An Increase in the number of schools engaged in delivery from 8 to 150+ planned from August 2017
An Increase in the number of industry designed and approved FA frameworks from 1 to 10
An Increase in the number of FA starts from 72 to c 1900 planned
Foundation Apprenticeships (FAs) are a fundamental change to the approach to education and work based learning in the senior phase.

9. Future Ambition Developed further in growth sectors
Number of places offered to pupils expanded
Part of every school offer by 2020
Recent announcement – 5,000 by 2019

10. Graduate Level Apprenticeships: an introduction

11. Who is a Graduate Level Apprenticeship for?
Employers seeking an alternative to traditional graduate schemes
Employers looking for a solution to skills planning
Individuals who want to change their area of study or gain a higher qualification whilst in employment
GLAs can be:
new employees
existing employees
school leavers with relevant qualifications
Foundation Apprentices and Modern Apprentices

12. Phase 1
There are currently courses being developed and delivered based on the following frameworks:
IT: Software Development SCQF level 10 (Honours degree)
IT: Management for Business SCQF level 10 (Honours degree)
Engineering: Design & Manufacture SCQF level 10 (Honours degree)
Civil Engineering SCQF level 8 (DipHE level)
379 GLA places available between now and September 2017
Our current partners are:
University of the Highlands and Islands
Glasgow Caledonian University
Robert Gordon University
Glasgow Kelvin College
Heriot-Watt University
Edinburgh Napier University
University of the West of Scotland
University of Dundee
University of Strathclyde
Courses are at all different stages of development. By the end of 2017 we will have recruited into all of the frameworks above.

13. Courses are at all different stages of development
Courses are at all different stages of development. By the end of 2017 we will have recruited into all of the frameworks above.

14. Future Ambition 4,000 Graduate Level Apprenticeships by 2020
Graduate Level Apprenticeships are embedded in career guidance
Offered by a range of learning providers across Scotland
Key role in delivering skills for Scottish industry