Tag Archives: youth

East Lothian Council’s Foundation Apprenticeships 2022-2024

Foundation Apprenticeships are a fantastic opportunity for S4 and S5 students in East Lothian. They provide pupils with valuable work experience while gaining a qualification at SCQF Level 6 (equivalent to a Higher). They help build skills and knowledge to assist them in entering into:

  • The job market
  • A Modern Apprenticeship
  • A Graduate Apprenticeship
  • College or University

Foundation Apprenticeships take two years to complete. Students typically spend the first year of the programme working in a classroom-based setting to complete the National Progression Award (NPA), and spend the second year undertaking work experience with local employers in their industry of choice.

The course takes place on a Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, and does not interfere with any other subjects students may wish to choose as part of their subject choicing.

The course has been designed to address areas where there is a demand for skilled workers. Therefore this ensures that the students have the knowledge and expertise to succeed in future job opportunities. East Lothian Works currently offers four frameworks.

Accountancy

Students will learn about recording financial accounting information and bookkeeping, management accounting, and preparing financial information, amongst other subject areas.

Current employers we work with include:

  • East Lothian Council Accountancy department
  • Trainline
  • Enjoy Leisure

Business Skills

Students will learn about management and business priorities across the industry, such as: working with IT software, managing people and finance, and contemporary business issues. They will learn how to plan, manage, and improve their own performance within the business and administration sector.

Current employers we work with include:

  • FES Group
  • Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce
  • Scottish Seabird Centre

Scientific Technologies

Students will learn about the development of new medicines, bioinformatics, medical technologies, as well as how the industry can contribute to society through improving people’s health, wellbeing, and quality of life.

Current employers we work with include:

  • Charles River Laboratories
  • Scotland’s Rural College
  • University of Edinburgh

Social Services Children and Young People

Students will learn about the safeguarding of children, as well as how to develop, interact, and play with young people.

Current employers we work with include:

  • Almond Park Nursery
  • Aberlady Nursery
  • Dunbar Nursery

If you are interested in undertaking a Foundation Apprenticeship, please speak to your Guidance Teacher and choose it as one of your subject choices. If you would like more information, please email elworks@eastlothian.gov.uk and we would be happy to help. You can also find us on social media:

Twitter – @el_works

Facebook – facebook.com/eastlothianworks

2020 Scottish Apprenticeship Awards

CONGRATULATIONS to former Dunbar Grammar student Annabel Stewart for making it as a finalist in this year’s Scottish Apprenticeship Awards!

Annabel completed her Foundation Apprenticeship in Scientific Technologies with East Lothian Works in partnership with Dunbar Grammar School and Charles River Laboratories.

Hear what Annabel has to say about her experience on the Foundation Apprenticeship in Scientific Technologies

We welcome everyone to come along and support Annabel at the final Scottish Apprenticeship Awards event alongside other inspirational young people across Scotland. To register for a FREE place at the online event on Thursday 4th March 2021 please visit: http://apprenticeships.scot/events/awards/

For further information on what Foundation Apprenticeships are available to you within your local area please visit www.apprenticeship.scot and register your interest today!

 

Staff Spotlight: Emma Lacey

Today’s Staff Spotlight is a little different; we are speaking to Emma Lacey, Business Support and Communications Officer for the Regional Developing the Young Workforce Team. ‘East Lothian Works’ work closely with Developing the Young Workforce (DYW), and therefore our Staff Spotlight series seemed like a great way to highlight all the hard work they do.

Continue reading Staff Spotlight: Emma Lacey →

Foundation Apprenticeship Interview with a Scientific Technologies Student

Today we are speaking to Emma, a Scientific Technologies Foundation Apprenticeship student, in order to learn about her experiences on the programme. This is part of a series on this blog in which we meet with Foundation Apprenticeship students on all five of the frameworks on offer in East Lothian to find out more about this opportunity.

Continue reading Foundation Apprenticeship Interview with a Scientific Technologies Student →

Foundation Apprenticeship Interview with Business Skills Students

Today we are speaking to two students, Sarah and Lewis, who are currently undertaking the Foundation Apprenticeship in Business Skills, in order to learn about their experiences on the programme. This is part of a series on this blog in which we meet with Foundation Apprenticeship students on all five of the frameworks on offer in East Lothian to find out more about the opportunity.

Continue reading Foundation Apprenticeship Interview with Business Skills Students →

A Day with the Pre-Voc Cooking Course

I was fortunate enough to get the opportunity to spend some time at East Lothian Works’ Cookery Courses. These classes run as part of the Pre-Vocational programme, giving secondary school students the opportunity to learn new skills and perhaps find a passion for a certain career. Students undertaking the cookery course get the opportunity to practice their cooking and baking skills, learn about health and safety in the workplace, and learn about where food comes from and how it can be used from professionals in the field.

The first class I visited consisted of students from Musselburgh Grammar, Ross High School, and Preston Lodge. They were at Edinburgh College on this occasion, attending a seminar on food health and safety. The class themselves were an incredible bunch; really lively and interested in what they were learning about. The students were from different schools, but they had all formed strong relationships as a result of this course.

Students learning about food health and safety.

The second group I visited were spending the day at Musselburgh Grammar in the kitchens learning how to cook multiple courses at once; it smelt incredible! This class consisted of students from Preston Lodge, Knox Academy, and North Berwick High School. Once again, this class were fantastic, getting stuck in and producing some amazing results. I was incredibly impressed with the work being done.

A student in the Cookery class making soup.

The cookery course offers students the chance to learn new skills that will be useful in a career in the culinary arts, and also in their daily lives. I would like to thank the teachers and students for allowing me into their class. I would also like to extend a thank you to Edinburgh College, Musselburgh Grammar School, and Knox Academy for providing us with use of their kitchens for this course.

Keep up to date with East Lothian Works:
Twitter – twitter.com/EL_Works
Facebook – facebook.com/EastLothianWorks

An Interview with East Lothian Works’ Mentors

I sat down with some of East Lothian Works’ Mentors to gain insight into their experiences on the programme. The Mentoring Programme allows young people between S2 and S6 to gain insight and guidance from a professional working in a field of work that interests the pupil. The scheme allows students in East Lothian to gain knowledge and experience of a certain industry, as well as gain support and advice on personal and emotional issues.

Continue reading An Interview with East Lothian Works’ Mentors →

Paddle Boarding Trip

Today’s post focuses on Matthew, one of the young people we work with at East Lothian Works. He has recently completed his Activity Agreement with the Transitions Team, and has since successfully moved on to a Positive Destination.

Matthew has engaged in several activities and courses, and as a result he has learnt many valuable skills, such as good time keeping, reliability, team working, and confidence. The final activity Matthew participated in with his Employment Support Worker Steve Nelson, was to spend an afternoon learning to Stand Up Paddle, which involved reliability, confidence, trust, and listening to and following instructions. But it also involved a great deal of fun!

We wish Matthew all the best for the future as he moves on to a college course (Professional Cookery). Watch this space for the next celebrity chef!

Keep up to date with East Lothian Works:
Twitter – twitter.com/EL_Works
Facebook – facebook.com/EastLothianWorks

An Interview with a Foundation Apprentice: Social Services Children and Young People

Today marks the start of a new series on this blog. We will be going to individual students who are currently undertaking Foundation Apprenticeships to get a sense of their experiences and opinions of their course. Today we will be focusing on Jodie, a Foundation Apprentice in the Social Services Children and Young People framework. She is just beginning her second and final year of the programme. Jodie is a fantastic example of an Apprentice; not only has she expressed an interest in working with individuals with Additional Support Needs (ASN), but she also volunteers her free time to work at ‘The Hub’, East Lothian Council’s centre for support for primary children with severe and complex needs. I sat down with Jodie to ask her a couple of questions:

Continue reading An Interview with a Foundation Apprentice: Social Services Children and Young People →