SCOTTISH MODERN APPRENTICESHIP

AWARDS 2006

CATEGORY: Continued Personal Development

WINNER:  John-Robert Eunson

As a young engineer in Shetland, John-Robert Eunson is

well aware that the whole is greater than the sum of the

parts… but every part is vital. And that’s the same in his

career. His Modern Apprenticeship has led him into a

degree course with becoming a chartered engineer his

ultimate goal.

ENGINEERS ARE AT THE HEART OF A SUCCESSFUL SCOTLAND

by Marie Burns, Director of Skills Interventions, Skills Development Scotland

The Scottish landscape and magnificent feats of engineering have always gone hand in hand, and that is as true today as it was during the industrial revolution.

Recent engineering triumphs like the Falkirk Wheel have quickly taken their place alongside landmarks like the Forth Rail Bridge. Shipbuilders on the Clyde continue to build some of the ocean’s finest vessels and word-class manufacturers including Roll Royce and BAE Systems continue to base themselves here.

Despite these success stories, there is a common misconception that there is a question mark over the future of the engineering sector. There is no doubt that it has changed dramatically in recent years, however, a great number of opportunities remain in this diverse and dynamic industry.

Skills Development Scotland aims to provide people living in Scotland with the right kind of skills that engineering businesses need to help them grow and become more productive. We manage a number of national training programmes including the very successful Modern Apprenticeship programme.

Engineering is one of the most popular Modern Apprenticeships with more than 3,000 currently in training and Skills Development Scotland will continue to support this investment in the coming year. It is an apprenticeship that enjoys a high success rate with young people completing their training and moving on to new opportunities in the industry. They are employed throughout Scotland and the apprenticeships are achieved at a time and a pace that suits the employer and the apprentice. Gone are the days of “timeserving".  Around one in five engineering companies is participating in the Modern Apprenticeship scheme.

Engineering can be a diverse career, from manufacturing

motor vehicles to operating plant and machinery. Our

colleagues in Futureskills Scotland have published a study of

the sector* and discovered that nearly all jobs in

engineering are full-time, and one quarter of employees in

the sector are employed as skilled tradespeople. There are

around 3,800 engineering sector workplaces in Scotland,

employing more than 97,000 people. The sector pays well,

with the average weekly full-time wage standing at £443, w

hich is 13 per cent higher than the Scottish average.

Engineers are at the heart of a successful Scotland;

growing our economy, building our communities and shaping

the landscape. 

Modern Apprenticeships are supporting this demanding

sector by developing a new generation of workers, making

Scotland’s firms more productive and ensuring that the right

skills are available for tomorrow’s jobs. Skills Development

Scotland is committed to improving the performance rates

of the programme and increasing the quality of training

provision.

* Futureskills Scotland and SEMTA - Science, Engineering

and Manufacturing Technologies – Scottish Sector Profile