Success on the Apprenticeship Pathway
Having been inspired by his Skills Development Scotland Career Adviser whilst still at school, Jordan Fairlamb opted to delve straight into the world of work by undertaking a Supply Chain Management Modern Apprenticeship with Dawnfresh Seafoods Ltd.
Fast-forward to November 2019 and Jordan has been crowned Modern Apprentice of the Year and overall Scottish Apprentice of the Year at the 2019 Scottish Apprenticeship Awards.
It feels amazing to have been nominated by Dawnfresh and to win both awards and be Scottish Apprentice of the Year is an honour.
Jordan's initiative and positive can do attitude saw him being nominated for Modern Apprentice of the Year after he identified and solved a packaging issue which helped Dawnfresh avoid £160k in costs.
In his Supply Chain day job with the seafood firm, Jordan is responsible for the daily ordering of salmon stock worth £1.8m. Having caught the bug for work based learning, he's now continuing his apprenticeship journey with a Graduate Apprenticeship in Business Management delivered by Strathclyde Business School.
Jordan began his studies at Strathclyde in 2019 on the second cohort of the Graduate Apprenticeship programme and successfully balances work and study with the continued support of Dawnfresh.
We are so proud and supportive of Jordan. He is a fantastic example of an apprentice and now balances academic study on his Graduate Apprenticeship whilst continuing to make a difference in our organisation.
Kristy Reynolds, Learning & Development Manager Dawnfresh Seafoods Ltd
From Modern to Graduate
Progression from a Modern to a Graduate Apprenticeship programme involves a significant increase in traditional academic teaching and learning. Our apprenticeship programmes are comparable and equivalent to our full-time degree programmes. Alongside traditional academic teaching and assessments, learners also undertake work based learning activities and projects which have been integrated into the degree design allowing them to quickly apply their learning back into their day jobs
Learners are typically expected to spend between 15-20 hours per week studying a Graduate Apprenticeship programme. Employers are encouraged to provide some protected time off the job to support their learners.
For Jordan, he hopes that the Modern Apprenticeship laid the foundations for successfully completing his degree level studies and now the sky is his limit with his sights set on a senior management position in the future.
Learning in the workplace
At Strathclyde, we employ dedicated Work Based Learning Advisors who are a key part of our Faculty teaching teams. These individuals bring a wealth of industry experience as well as a background in work based assessment.
Jordan and all Strathclyde Graduate Apprentices, are supported throughout their studies by a Work Based Learning Advisor whom they meet regularly to monitor their progress on the programme. They support the development of their e-portfolio of evidence for use should they wish to apply for Professional Accreditation upon completion of their degree studies.
Work based learning is integrated into each Graduate Apprenticeship programme and directly contributes credits towards the award.
Everything I learn I can apply to further my understanding of the workplace, and improve the quality of my work. My Graduate Apprenticeship helps me learn useful theory and further develop my career by gaining a degree.
A supportive learning environment
Support is offered for those who may be returning to academic study after a break or who have not studied before including sessions on academic writing and referencing as well as access to our Study Skills service which offers practical advice and support to enhance learning.
The transition from a MA to a GA is quite significant as the level of academic work understabably increases considerably on a degree programme.Our role as Learning Advisors is to work alongside our academic colleagues to design and deliver a work based degree which makes that transition as smooth as possible for our learners, who may be completely new to academic study or returning to higher education.
Nicola Holmes Graduate Apprentice Learning Advisor
Together with industry
The strong tripartite relationship between an employer, the learner and the University is the key to the success of work based Graduate Apprenticeship degrees. Strathclyde is committed to delivering a high-quality experience for all employer partners as well as learners.
Through engagement events and discussions, employers have shaped the Apprenticeship degrees we deliver at Strathclyde. This has resulted in programmes which do not only bring value and opportunity to the learner, but also to our employer partners.
Skills for the future
Graduate Apprenticeships are an opportunity for organisations to not only broaden the talent pool by recruiting new staff into their business but also to develop existing employees. Employers can nominate individuals who are in a suitable job role which will enable them to complete the work based learning elements of the programme.
Flexible delivery model
Strathclyde Graduate Apprentices have access to our award-winning digital platform and will access course materials via our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), Myplace. In addition, Graduate Apprentices also attend on-campus days typically one day per month for the duration of their studies. These on-campus sessions allow for the face-to-face delivery of teaching and other activities whilst also allowing Graduate Apprentices to interact with their tutors and network with their peers.
