With Clyde-Built craftmanship famous around the world and the pride of Inverclyde; West College Scotland have made significant investment in the Engineering resources at the Greenock Campus to ensure that they continue to support the skills associated with the Clyde-built legacy.

It has never been more important to invest in skills and developing our young workforce with recent reports estimating up to one million under 25 year olds will face unemployment as a result of the forecasted recession incurred by the COVID-19 Pandemic. 

In a partnership that dates back many years the College are delighted to continue to support Port Glasgow based international marine engineering business, Ferguson Marine with the delivery of their Engineering Modern Apprenticeship programme. The College work in conjunction with Skills Development Scotland to manage the Ferguson Marine Engineering Modern Apprenticeship programme which incorporates the delivery several elements including the off the job training which is now delivered within the upgraded facilities within the Finnart Street Engineering Workshops.

Over the last several months the College have been working with the Ferguson Marine team to support the recruitment of their latest cohort of Engineering apprentices. This bold step was taken to ensure that Ferguson Marine secures the skills required for the future and to ‘Grow Our Own’ tradespeople to meet business requirements going forward. After a grueling process of interviews and assessments, Ferguson Marine were pleased to offer 25 individuals places on their Apprenticeship programme across a range of engineering trade disciplines including fabrication, welding and engineering technical support.

The successful applicants commenced their apprenticeship in the middle of September and will spend the first year of their apprenticeship attending College for 3 days per week through until June to undertake the off the job training with the remainder of their time spent in various work placements with Ferguson Marine. After which they will return to College on a day release basis to undertake a National Certificate while continuing to develop their trade specific skills within the workplace supported by the College Skills progamme team. The programme is in three parts and in the final year the apprentices will complete their relevant academic qualification (NC/HNC) and complete SVQ Level 3, Performing Engineering Operations.

Working in partnership with West College Scotland, Ferguson Marine is giving young people the opportunity to gain an academic understanding of their work in the classroom combined with practical experience of one-to-one mentoring within the shipyard setting.  The courses across all trades will equip apprentices with the technical knowledge and understanding of the fundamental principles required to work in the manufacturing and shipbuilding trades.

The apprentices were recently visited by Tim Hair, Turnaround Director at Ferguson Marine to see how they were settling into their training at the College.

Tim Hair, Turnaround Director at Ferguson Marine (Port Glasgow) Ltd, said:

“Apprentices form a core part of our workforce planning.  They are integral to the future of the shipyard and to sustaining the trades and skills needed for shipbuilding in Scotland.  This year, we made the decision to invest more heavily than ever before.  Like many businesses in the engineering and manufacturing sector, we have an ageing workforce and it’s more important than ever to attract young people and new talent to safeguard the long-term workforce. 

He continued, “The shipyard’s partnership with West College Scotland has been in place for many years and is highly successful.  We are able to tailor the learning programme to meet the knowledge and skills we need now and in future.

“It’s early days for our new cohort of apprentices, but all have settled in well to the course and on-site within the shipyard.  The recruitment of this young talent is a clear indication of the Scottish Government’s commitment to the business and to the future of commercial shipbuilding on the Clyde.”

With extensive experience in the delivery of the Engineering Apprenticeship framework the College is dedicated to investing in apprenticeships and provide the necessary skills to our young workforce to protect the future of the Engineering Sector across the West region including Inverclyde. Moving forward while looking to ensure that the traditional ship building skills are maintained they are also looking to ensure that the young people are equipped with the future skill requirement including advancing manufacturing

Liz Connolly, Principal & Chief Executive @ WCS said

“West College Scotland are delighted to strengthen our Partnership with Ferguson Marine through supporting their Modern Apprenticeship programme. This provides a fantastic opportunity for the 25 new apprentices allowing for the skilled jobs to be retained within local area and cementing the College’s commitment to skills development in Inverclyde”

All at West College Scotland and Ferguson Marine wish the apprentices the best of luck in their Engineering Careers!

 Photography Credit - Louise Gault (www.louisegaultphotography.co.uk)