Scottish National Apprenticeship Week Daily Diary: 21 May

Hawick apprentices photo

Hawick apprentices and employers with Paul Wheelhouse MSP

Celebrating in Hawick

Hawick’s knitwear industry was out in force for yesterday’s award ceremony held at the Town Hall. Paul Wheelhouse MSP joined in the celebrations, presenting certificates of achievement to 31 apprentices who have attained level 2 Modern Apprenticeships in Manufacturing Textiles, 17 who have completed City & Guild Train the Trainer and eight who have completed Assessing in the Workplace training were presented with certificates of achievement.

The event was hosted by Creative Skillset, the Borders Textile Training Group, the Scottish Textiles and Leather Association and the Scottish Textiles Academic Group and marked a significant milestone in revitalising the knitwear industry in the Borders, which had suffered from negative perceptions as a dying industry with unattractive career prospects.

As Hawick Knitwear Manufacturing Director, Ian MacLeod says “There had been no formal recognition of the training that had been taking place in the industry for over 25 years. As a result of the programme we now have a recognised qualification that new recruits go through and let them see that there can be development opportunities for progression. This will make the industry more attractive to the younger generation. It will also give existing staff to chance to up skill there personnel profile by achieving a recognised qualification on either the MA programme or undertake training to become a qualified trainer or assessor.”

By companies coming together and taking a collaborative and proactive approach to the skills issues faced by the industry, the scheme has been an overwhelming success. Over 60 apprentices are now employed by companies across the Borders, including Barrie, Eribe, Hawick Knitwear, Peter Scott, William Lockie & Co and Scott & Charters – and this number could rise to a further 150 apprenticeships this year alone.  The success of this scheme also has impact beyond the Borders, with the Scottish Textile Industry Association using it as a model of excellence to roll out across Scotland.

But nothing speaks louder of a vibrant, re-invigorated industry more than the voices of those who have completed their apprenticeships. Over the last year Teresa Stewart has been working in the bodylinking department at Johnstons of Elgin.  She commented that “I knew I would enjoy being an apprentice here but I don’t think I realised at the beginning that I would be learning a trade for life and that’s something I really like. I think it’s good for young people to get opportunities like this, where we learn new things and are encouraged and promoted. It gives you a real sense of achievement.”

Congratulations to Teresa and everyone who were awarded their certificates yesterday and we look forward to your woollies keeping us warm for years to come!

Find out more about Scottish Modern Apprenticeships.

Scottish National Apprenticeship Week Daily Diary: 20 May

Getting Creative with Modern Apprenticeships

Photo by Derek Lunn

Photo by Derek Lunn

As Scottish National Apprenticeship Week starts today, we’ve the perfect opportunity to celebrate the achievements of apprentices within our sector, as well as highlighting how an apprenticeship can work for employers and young people alike.

Mention apprenticeships in Glasgow, the former second city of the empire, and people of a certain generation will think of the shipyards and other heavy engineering factories, with young lads serving their time as apprentice welders, riveters and all sorts of other hard, manual, yet skilled, occupations. On top of this tradition of manufacturing, older generations might still associate apprenticeships with entry into areas like plumbing, joinery and construction.

Fast forward to the 21st century and Modern Apprenticeships have transformed opportunities for young people in Scotland. There are now accessible pathways into a sometimes bewildering array of occupations; from all the traditional areas to new hi-tech industries, the service sector and the Creative Industries.

What’s more, employers recognise the benefit in taking young people without any preconceived ideas into work and helping them begin their careers in a structured and supportive way, while also contributing to day-to-day operations.

Creative Skillset’s portfolio of Modern Apprenticeship frameworks spans Creative and Digital Media (at Level 3) and Fashion and Textiles Heritage (at Levels 2 and 3) and both are helping support a new generation of skilled young people.

BBC Scotland was first to recognise that the Creative Skillset Modern Apprenticeship in Creative and Digital Media could help to break the cycle in broadcasting that sees over 60% of the workforce having a university degree. The opportunity to gain skills and earn a living wage at the same time is also an attraction for many young people who have chosen the apprenticeship route over a certain university place.

Current apprentices will be getting the opportunity to test their new skills by co-presenting the Fred MacAulay show on BBC Radio Scotland Wednesday morning – make sure you tune in to hear them from 10.30am!

Over in the Scottish Border’s, local textiles mills have taken to the Modern Apprenticeship in Manufacturing Textiles Production (Level 2) with gusto. Against a troubled recent history of mill closures, and a sector that ranked 9th out of 10 in attractiveness for young people as a career destination of choice, the sector struggled to recruit young people.

Around a dozen major employers now work together to deliver the Modern Apprenticeship across the local area, creating a new structured path into the industry for the first time in years. Such has been the success of this work that they are beginning to make plans with provider Cardonald College to move on to the Level 3 award and, working with the Scottish Textiles and Leather Association, they are beginning to attract interest in their delivery model from other mills around Scotland.

This has proven to be a real triumph and we’ll be celebrating at Hawick Town Hall this afternoon when 31 apprentices will be receiving their MA level 2 in Manufacturing Textiles certificate of achievement.

So if you have outdated ideas about what and who apprenticeships are for, and that they only represent a narrow range of occupations, think again. Whether you’re a young person looking for that first break, or an employer looking for ways of building your capacity, have a look at what an apprenticeship could do for you.

Wanted: creative and digital media skills

I run a digital marketing agency based in Bristol and Somerset and finding new recruits with the right skills, talent and attitude is challenging. In fact it is widely accepted amongst many digital media businesses in this region that recruitment is a nightmare. Creating a platform for new talent to emerge, to be inspired, learn industry skills is the first step to solving a big problem. . . . → Read More: Wanted: creative and digital media skills

Careers in Publishing

Fancy a career in publishing, but don’t know where to start?

The UK publishing industry can be very competitive to get into, but is a dynamic and exciting one to work in. It’s at the heart of the social, cultural, educational and political life of the UK.

Publishing is made up of a very diverse group of industries, . . . → Read More: Careers in Publishing

4Talent hits north Wales!

On a beautiful but windy day, Jess and I headed for the north Wales coast to take part in one of 2013’s 4Talent Days – part of Channel 4’s outreach and recruitment programme aimed at those aspiring to a career in the media. It was an exciting roadshow event with a full programme of information sessions, workshops, networking opportunities, interviews and talent spotting, q&as, presentations, and a spot of lunch (including welsh cakes) to boot. . . . → Read More: 4Talent hits north Wales!

4Talent yn glanio yng Ngogledd Cymru!

Un diwrnod braf ond gwyntog, aeth Jess a fi i lannau Gogledd Cymru i gymryd rhan yn un o ddyddiau 4Talent Days 2013 – rhan o raglen estyn allan a recriwtio Sianel 4 sy’n anelu at bobl sy’n ceisio gyrfa yn y cyfryngau. Roedd yn ddigwyddiad sioe deithiol gyffrous gyda rhaglen lawn o sesiynau gwybodaeth, gweithdai, cyfleoedd i rwydweithio, cyfweliadau a ‘sbotio’ doniau, holi ac ateb, cyflwyniadau a thamaid o ginio (yn cynnwys teisennau cri) yn y fargen. . . . → Read More: 4Talent yn glanio yng Ngogledd Cymru!

The Vogue Festival 2013

The Vogue Festival 2013 took place this weekend at London’s Southbank Centre. I was lucky enough to go along on Sunday to see a range of panels including The secrets of creating a British brand and Too fat too thin, as well as Q&As with Victoria Beckham, Mario Testino, Alber Elbaz and Donatella Versace. . . . → Read More: The Vogue Festival 2013