Modern Apprenticeship Ambassadors

24th May 2013

Employers and apprentices to champion benefits of MA programme

LEADING Modern Apprentice (MA) graduates and some of Scotland’s top companies have signed up to become champions and ambassadors of the programme, helping to boost apprenticeship opportunities across Scotland.

As Scottish Apprenticeship Week draws to a close, Skills Development Scotland (SDS) is planning to build on the enthusiasm of all those involved in the earn-while-you-learn programme by asking them to sign-up as recognised supporters.

Businesses among the first to join the MA Ambassador Programme include ACE Winches, BT, British Airways, Selex ES, ScotRail, SSE and Scottish Leather Group.

Launching the initiative this morning at a Scottish Leather Group Apprenticeship Event at Reid Kerr College in Paisley,

Damien Yeates, Chief Executive of SDS, said:"This is a natural progression for the MA programme. Today is just the beginning and I'm delighted to welcome the employers and MA graduates who have signed-up to be our first official employer champions and MA ambassadors. These champions have experienced first hand the enormous contribution and tangible benefits that MAs can bring to their business and the ambassadors are seeing their career go from strength to strength as a result of the MA programme.

“Our champions will build on their existing good work in promoting the benefits of the programme at events and in the media across Scotland encouraging more individuals and businesses to get involved. Recent statistics show that just 12 per cent of employers offer MAs so the potential is clear.”

As well as promoting and explaining the value of MAs, it is hoped the programme will help to increase the sense of community among graduates.

Maureen Ross, Head of HR at Scottish Leather Group said:“We are delighted to be one of the first employer champions of the MA Ambassador Programme. We are very proud of our Apprenticeship Academy which is a fantastic vocational programme with real job opportunities and career prospects at the end of it. We continue to be massively impressed by the calibre of apprentices coming through the programme and would encourage other employers to back it too.”

Gary Hamilton, Technical Training Manager at SSE added:"SSE is delighted to support the MA Ambassador programme. Modern Apprenticeships give people a great opportunity to get their foot on the career ladder and receive educational and professional training while earning a salary. The scheme has been a great success at SSE with 188 apprentices successfully graduating through the programme in Scotland since 2007.

"The Ambassador programme will further promote the many benefits associated with apprenticeship schemes and we will be encouraging our graduate apprentices to participate by going into the local community to talk about their own positive experiences and raise awareness of the opportunities available."

MA graduate ambassadors include Gavin Buchan, ACE Winches, Elise Littlejohn, Selex ES, and Angela Wilson, Renfrewshire Council.

Ms Wilson, a finalist at last year’s Scotland’s Modern Apprenticeship Awards, said:“It is a huge honour for me to be invited to be one of the first ambassadors of the Modern Apprenticeship Programme. The programme has enabled me to gain valuable qualifications as well as on-the-job experience. It has given me a fantastic opportunity to develop and been a great platform to progress my career with Renfrewshire Council. I’m delighted that my role now involves mentoring new MAs, as I know exactly how good the programme has been for me.”

Youth Employment Minister Angela Constance MSP added:“In my time as Minister for Youth Employment, I have heard countless inspirational stories of young people who have started an apprenticeship and moved into a relevant full time job after completing their qualification. The Scottish Government’s commitment to 25,000 MAs every year is clear and the Programme is becoming more accepted and valued in both Scottish culture and the business world. However, there is still much more to do to raise awareness of its benefits and the MA Ambassador Programme is a natural next step in building the positive profile of MAs and improving the quality of the programme.

“Having businesses on board is very much part of my work to encourage more employers to make young people their business. Other organisations, not yet sold on the benefits an MA could bring, will be able to learn a lot from the experiences of others. Individuals too, will help energise other young people and highlight the programme as an excellent and rewarding career path.

“I have been very pleased to have been able to play a full part Scottish Apprenticeship Week 2013 alongside a number of my ministerial colleagues. I’m already looking towards 2014 and I see the MA Ambassador Programme as playing a significant part in making next year bigger still, and ensuring all employers, big or small, can see how an MA can boost their business growth.”

Any individuals or employers interested in getting involved or finding out more about the Ambassador Programme should contact 0141 285 6051 or email extcomms[AT]sds.co.uk

The first MA employer champions are:

ACE Winches
British Telecom
British Airways
Selex ES
ScotRail
SSE
Scottish Leather Group

The first MA graduate champions are:

Gavin Buchan, ACE Winches
Elise Littlejohn, Selex ES
Angela Wilson, Renfrewshire Council

For more information on Scottish Apprenticeship Week 2013 visit: www.sds.co.uk/saw2013