Score Apprenticeship Awareness Event at Peterhead Academy

DYW North East facilitated an event where pupils at Peterhead Academy had a chance to meet with the Global Apprenticeship Manager from Score Group and discuss upcoming apprenticeship opportunities both in the engineering and business sector. In preparation for Scottish Apprenticeship Week and to support the Peterhead Academy Virtual Careers Fair, Score Group attended Peterhead Academy to inform pupils of the apprenticeship opportunities that will be advertised during Scottish Apprenticeship Week.

 This took place over a lunch time, requesting pupils to register with the DYW ESC in order to book a slot, allowing Score Group to give a targeted response to those pupils who were interested as opposed to a blanket response across different curriculum areas. This allowed the school to implement Covid-19 mitigation whilst targeting pupils who had a key interest in the sectors advertised.

The outcome was 43 pupils across all year groups not only receiving information/awareness of Score Group as an organisation, but having the chance to chat to Stevie Wilson, Global Apprenticeship Manager without an agenda or set questions, opening the floor for young person to ask questions about specific apprenticeships which they are interested in. It is important to note that whilst apprenticeships within engineering were key to this event, apprenticeship within their business services sector were also discussed, which is a key growth sector in Aberdeenshire, as advised by the SDS Regional Skills Assessment (July 2021).  The presentation gave students an outline of the Modern and Graduate Apprenticeship pathway that Score Group can offer young people.

The well-attended presentation showcased some of the approaches Score Group take to supporting their apprentices, it also gave pupils the opportunity to test their technical skills with a couple of challenges involving the strip and rebuild of a ball valve and a demonstration of mechanical advantage, this kept pupils engaged and several directed themselves to Score Group’s Apprenticeship web page on conclusion.
The event was well managed and effective; a recommendation for the future is that it would be best to work this event into the curriculum targeting senior phase pupils. This would give the opportunity for pupils to gain a more in-depth knowledge about the range of apprenticeship opportunities available, as traditionally they may have seen this as an ‘engineering only’ sector. 

Shona Sellers, Head Teacher at Peterhead Academy said:
"Score have provided apprenticeship opportunities to hundreds of our students over the years.  Many have travelled worldwide and have gained invaluable experience through working with Score.  It is vital that we continue to work with our local business partners to secure positive destinations for the young people in our community and provide opportunities to understand the vast range of opportunities available to them."
 
Feedback from a parent of a senior phase pupil:
"It’s important for pupils to visit things like apprenticeship events as it gives them as idea of what job opportunities there is in the local area and give them a chance to engage with employers about what they can achieve in doing apprenticeships. My daughter attended one of these events and found it very useful and informative."