School pupil Emily Ritchie believes a Foundation Apprenticeship has helped her prepare for life outside the classroom and a career in civil engineering. The 17-year-old now wants to pursue a future in engineering after experiencing work-based learning with Paisley-based City Gate Construction. 

 

Emily chose a Foundation Apprenticeship as one of her school subjects, meaning she attends college and completes a work placement. Emily said of her Foundation Apprenticeship:

 

School can teach you about how the workplace might be. However, the Foundation Apprenticeship has given me the opportunity to experience it first-hand. The Foundation Apprenticeship has helped me realise that civil engineering is what I want to do with my life.

 

Foundation Apprenticeships give young people in S5 and S6 the opportunity to gain a nationally recognised qualification, at the same level as a Higher. 

 

Now in S6, Emily has embraced all aspects of her civil engineering Foundation Apprenticeship and would highly recommend it to other pupils. 

 

During my time on site, I was introduced to all aspects of civil engineering but more importantly everyone at CGC was really welcoming. I’m quite a nervous person so actually experiencing a workplace has shown me I have nothing to worry about when I leave school.

 

Emily, a pupil at Barrhead High also attends West College Scotland in Paisley alongside four Highers in her fifth year at school. Andy Corbett, one of Emily’s lecturers at college, says:

 

I would encourage schools and parents to embrace the Foundation Apprenticeships. Foundation Apprenticeships are a fantastic opportunity for a young person to develop a career path. Emily is nearly at the end of her Foundation Apprenticeship journey but she has been an absolute joy to work with. The standard of work she’s produced throughout her time here has been excellent.

Click here to find out more about Foundation Apprenticeships at West College Scotland.