About Apprenticeships
Providing Technical Training Solutions
Modern Apprenticeships
The Scottish Government offers a suite of National Training Programmes (NTP) and the Modern Apprenticeship (MA) is one of these training programmes.
Modern Apprenticeships are aimed at those aged 16 or over and capable of achieving a vocational qualification (VQ) at Level Two or above. The programme can be used to train existing employees or new employees. Any company in Scotland – whatever its size – can take part in the programme.
The Modern Apprenticeship receives a contribution towards the training costs from Skills Development Scotland (SDS) to those organisations who meet the rules and regulations set out by the Scottish Government. BTTA is an organisation that meets these stringent rules and regulations set out by Skills Development Scotland and is audited on a regular basis by ENGINUITY (Formerly SEMTA, the Sector Skill Council), Lead bodies; EAL and Skills Development Scotland. to ensure standards are being met and adhered to.
National Minimum Wage
Most companies employing apprentices will pay in excess of the national minimum wage with a starting salary of around 47.5% of the Qualified Engineer’s Salary. This salary will increase each year taking the apprentice up to the Qualified Engineers Salary once qualifying themselves (usually 4 years).
However, there are national guidelines laid down by the Government for companies to follow under the National Minimum Wage (NWM):
There are different levels of NMW, depending on your age and whether you are an apprentice.
For full details visit National Minimum Wage here
What do Modern Apprenticeships offer?
As a Modern Apprentice you will be employed from the very start of your training and receive a wage from your employer. You will then be given the chance to develop expertise and knowledge through on-the-job training as well as gaining vital skills such as team work and problem solving. A recent independent evaluation showed that the main reasons for people becoming a Modern Apprentice included the attraction of a job with training, the opportunity to gain a qualification and the opportunity to learn and gain knowledge and experience. There is also the security of knowing that your progress is being monitored and supported by your employer and your training company and that you are working towards a nationally recognised qualification. Modern Apprentices tend to have an improved ability to do their job, improved communication, team working skills and increased likelihood of future training activities and career advancement.
The 1st year apprentice programme is carried out in an off the job environment consisting of up to 36 weeks at a suitable further education college. Here the apprentices study for their Scottish Vocational Qualification in Performing Engineering Operations (PEO) at level 2 and at the same time for their National Certificate, which is their underpinning knowledge part of the MA.
On completion of their first year the apprentice progresses onto their level 3 vocational qualification, which allows them to specialise in the area which meets the company’s needs which is most beneficial to the company the apprentice works at. This course of study is classified as “on the job training” where a qualified person in the organisation acts as their mentor and some times their assessor.
The foundation stage, as specified in the modern apprenticeship framework document, will provide a broad base of basic skills, knowledge and understanding about engineering in general. This stage will provide a basis on which work-based skills can be further developed and enhanced in one or more of the specified engineering disciplines selected.
Foundation training will take place in an off-the-job environment at a suitable further education college, over a 36-week period and will comprise full-time periods of training of up to 5 days per week except for the holiday periods specified in the college academic calendar.
The content of the foundation training stage shall be specified for each pathway to meet the employer’s needs and to prepare the apprentice for the intended job role within the employing company. The content will be detailed in an agreed individual training plan for each apprentice and will cover the following:
- Training units to be trained on
- Learning opportunities within each unit
- Who will carry out the training
- Where the training will take place
- Start and expected completion dates of training
The planned outcome for the foundation stage of training will be the achievement of the SVQ in Performing Engineering Operations at Level 2 (SCQF level 5).
The post foundation stage, as specified in the modern apprenticeship framework document, will provide training in the specified mandatory skills and the selected optional skills, and will develop the required knowledge and understanding applicable to one or more specified engineering disciplines selected.
Post foundation training will take place within the candidate’s workplace over a three year period and could be supported by attending selected in-house or external training courses.
The content of the post foundation stage shall be specified for each pathway to meet the employing company needs and will prepare the candidate for the intended job role within the employing company.
The content will be detailed in an agreed individual training plan for each candidate and will cover the following:Training subjects, mandatory and optional
- Learning opportunities within each subject
- Who will carry out the training
- Where the training will take place
- Start and completion dates
The planned outcome from the post foundation stage of training will be the achievement of a SVQ level 3 qualification in one of the following approved engineering pathways at SCQF level 7:
- Engineering Maintenance
- Mechanical Manufacturing Engineering
- Fabrication and Welding.
- Engineering Technical Support
The education stage, as specified in the modern apprenticeship framework document, will provide an opportunity for the acquisition of knowledge which is occupationally relevant, and enable the candidate to progress the job role within the employing company.
The education stage will normally take place at a suitable further education college, over a two year period of part-time study on an occupationally relevant course agreed between the candidate and the employing company. The content of the education stage shall be specified for each pathway as an SQA National Certificate or Higher National Certificate course and should prepare the apprentice for the intended job role within the employing company.
The content will be in accordance with the SQA group award structure and will cover one of the following group awards from Scottish Qualifications Authority:
- Electrical
- Electronic
- Engineering
- Welding and Fabrication.
Within each of these qualification the apprentice will study:
- Common Core credits
- Principles & Technology credits
- Optional Principles & Technology credits
- Other Optional credits
A minimum total of 12 credits/units
The planned outcome from the education stage will be the achievement of a SQA group award at either National (SCQF 5/6) or Higher National Certificate level (SCQF 7).
All Modern apprenticeships follow the National Training Programme rules and regulations which, is sponsored by Skills Development Scotland.
The 1st year apprentice programme is carried out in an off the job environment consisting of 36 weeks at a suitable Further Education College. Here the apprentices study for their Scottish Vocational Qualification in Performing Engineering Operations (PEO) at level 2 (SCQF 5) and at the same time for their National Certificate (SCQF 5/6), which is their underpinning knowledge part of the MA.
On completion of their first year the apprentice progresses onto their level 3 vocational qualification, which allows them to specialise in the area which is most benificial to the company the apprentice works at. This course of study is classified as “on the job training” where a qualified person in the organisation acts as their mentor and some times their assessor.
The apprenticeship SVQs on offer through BTTA are:
- Performing Engineering Operations at SVQ Level 2 (SCQF 5)
- Mechanical Manufacturing Engineering suite at SVQ Level 3,or 4 (SCQF 6 or 7)
- Engineering Maintenance suite at SVQ Level 3 or 4 (SCQF 6 or 7)
- Fabrication and Welding suite at SVQ Level 3 or 4 (SCQF 6 or 7)
- Engineering Technical Support suite at SVQ Level 3 or 4 (SCQF 6 or 7)
- Electrical Electronic Engineering suite at SVQ Level 3 or 4 (SCQF 6 or 7)