Impress colleges, universities and employers with a Foundation Apprenticeship
Not sure what an apprenticeship is or how they apply to you? We're here to explain all.
Apprenticeships come in a variety shapes and sizes. You can learn all about the different types on Apprenticeships.scot. If you're in school, you can start with a Foundation Apprenticeship (FA). With an FA, you split your time between study and work, so you get practical experience as well as a qualification.
You can choose an FA as a subject to study over one or two years, usually starting in S5 or S6. With an FA, you’ll:
- get a qualification equal to a National 4, National 5 or Higher
- build work experience
- gain confidence and learn new skills
- find out what you like doing before you leave school
- prepare for going into a job or progress to a Modern or Graduate Apprenticeship
We introduced FAs in 2016. Since then, more than 16,000 young people have used them to experience the world of work.
There are 15 to choose from, check them out on Apprenticeships.scot. You just might find the perfect first step towards your dream career.
Don’t take our word for it
We love Foundation Apprenticeships. And we love sharing stories from people who have used them to go onto bigger and better things in their career. Check out Lara's story. After her FA in Healthcare and Social Services, she went on to study for a degree in psychology at Aberdeen University. Lara’s now well on her way to her dream of becoming a forensic or clinical psychologist.
We support other businesses to develop apprentices, but we also take on FAs of our own every year.
Hear from our 2023/2024 group about how their FA is helping them!
Hannah Burr
FA, Business Skills
“I really enjoyed my FA with Skills Development Scotland. It’s nice to be in a different environment and get out of school for a while. I’ve met lots of people, made connections and learned new skills. For example, I’m now more comfortable using Microsoft OneNote and Excel. Those are tools I’d never have used before I started my FA.”
Nat Anderson
FA, Creative and Digital Media
“I was able to work with like-minded people and experts to build on my video production skills. For one task, I worked on a video project from start to finish. This involved me creating storyboards, filming, clipping and editing the video piece. The final video was then used on social media and is still on the website, a pretty cool feeling.”
Emma Hamilton
FA, Business Skills
“One of my favourite things was getting to experience 2 different learning environments, college and work. It’s a big change from school but I feel like it’s suited me a lot more. I’ve really developed my interpersonal skills, especially my communication. There are plenty of other benefits too. I’ve loved meeting new people, both in college and the workplace. It’s been very inspiring when thinking about my next stage of education and career choices.”