A Graduate Apprenticeship Awareness Event will be held by Robert Gordon University at The Orkney Distillery Visitor Centre today,  Wednesday January 30 in conjunction with Developing the Young Workforce (DYW).

There will be 2  2-hour sessions  11:00 – 13:00 and 14:00 – 16:00, There are 20 spaces available for each session and they will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

This event will provide an opportunity to learn more about Graduate Apprenticeships being offered by Robert Gordon University (RGU) and how they can support businesses and students.

Graduate Apprenticeships allow students to work full-time and live locally, while gaining a degree.

In Orkney, there are 11 Graduate Apprenticeships across a range of sectors.

RGU is providing degree programmes in Construction and the Built Environment to employees from Orkney Islands Council, Orkney Builders, Casey Construction and Heddle Construction.

EMEC is benefitting from two Graduate Apprenticeships in Business Management and Engineering: Instrumentation, Measurement and Control.

NHS Orkney has four Business Management apprentices and a further IT Management for Business apprentice.

The programme offers the opportunity to upskill existing employees or recruit a new candidate to undertake the course so appeals to those already in full-time employment and school leavers.

Cath Russell, who is currently carrying out a Graduate Apprenticeship with The European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney, said:

“I’m really enjoying learning the theory behind what I do in practice. I’m finding that applying the theory to my own company is really helpful, it makes it more real if I can see it in action. I think I learn better by doing so being able to practically use my learning in my day to day job is great.

“Being in a class with others from different companies helps as I hear about other sectors and how their practice is similar or differs from mine. I can work through the online materials at times that suit me, which means I can fit in with family life and so far, it seems to be working well.  The tutors are always on hand to answer any queries and the forums give us all a chance to discuss things.”

Stephen Kemp,Managing Director of Orkney Builders Limited said:

“The graduate apprenticeship scheme has made it possible to further develop our technical skill base by removing the barrier previously presented by being located on Orkney.”

For more information about the event, please visit: https://www.rgu.ac.uk/events/events-2019/1637-graduate-apprenticeship-awareness-event-orkney

Fiona Campbell, Business Development Manager at RGU  said:

“RGU have a unique delivery method for the Graduate Apprenticeships in that we utilise our Virtual Learning Environment to deliver the majority of the theoretical learning on-line and ask the apprentices to put it into practice in their workplace, only having to come to the Aberdeen Campus once a module (four times a year).

“This has allowed us to greatly widen our reach to employers across Scotland and we have seen great interest from the islands as these remote locations find it even more beneficial.”