Although your local careers centre is currently closed in line with the government COVID-19 advice, you can still get careers advice.
Careers advisers are available over the phone or online. If you want to speak to your school careers adviser, you can call your local centre and ask for them by name.
Call your local careers centre or visit myworldofwork.co.uk
If you have symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) or live with someone that does, then you can’t leave your home. This is called self-isolation. You should apply for an isolation note on the NHS website to give to your employer.
Apprenticeships are designed to be responsive to changes to your circumstances such as a period of illness. Please talk to your employer and learning provider about the best way to continue your apprenticeship.
Options might include e-learning, breaks in learning or rescheduling of planned assessment activity.
Discuss this with your employer and learning provider as soon as you can. The appropriate steps need to be agreed based on you, your employer and learning provider’s situation.
We understand you might feel you don’t want to go into work during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The government has provided a list of businesses that must close during the COVID-19 pandemic. If your workplace is still open, the advice is that you can travel to your essential workplace if it’s not possible to work from home.
Speak to your employer about your concerns. They should take steps to protect everyone and where possible, allow you to work from home.
You might be able to take the time off as a holiday or unpaid leave, but this may not be approved by your employer.
If you refuse to attend work without a valid reason, it could result in disciplinary action.
If someone in your household is high-risk and you are still travelling to work, then you should follow the government guidance of living with someone who is classed as vulnerable or high-risk.
Your employer may need you to undertake a business-critical role at this time.
It should hopefully be a short-term requirement after which, you can then carry on with your apprenticeship role.
Any work you do in the business-critical role might also provide learning and evidence towards your apprenticeship.
You should discuss the change of role with your provider.
Yes, the latest guidance from HMRC confirms apprentices can be furloughed in the same way as other employees, and can continue to train whilst furloughed. You should speak to your training provider to get more advice and guidance.
We are working with SQA and other awarding bodies to support their guidance for apprentices and learning providers to ensure that the effects of disruption are minimised and that, wherever possible, apprentices and learners are not negatively impacted in the long term.
SQA are posting frequent updates for learners on their website.
We will update with further information specific to apprenticeships as soon as this is available.
In the meantime, apprentices should follow the guidance provided by their learning provider e.g. college, university or training centre, along with the advice of their employer.
Depending on your apprenticeship and learning provider, you may be able to complete your learning online/ digitally. This should be discussed with your learning provider and employer to see if this option is available to you.
Where apprentices are unable to participate in learning online/ digitally or by other methods in line with the assessment strategy, they will be able to resume their learning once back in the workplace.
SDS has worked with SQA on a range of support for learners taking Foundation Apprenticeships during the pandemic to give them the best chance to complete.
SQA has also recently reviewed all national qualifications. This includes National Certificates, National Progression Awards and Skills for Work qualifications included within Foundation Apprenticeships at L4/5 and L6. Where it was needed, revised guidance was given to the Foundation Apprenticeship learning providers to support the completion of learning and assessment.
Despite these developments, SDS recognises that the disruption has affected delivery, and in some cases, learning is behind schedule. With nearly all secondary school students returning to school by the end of April, SDS is working closely with learning providers, colleges and schools to support FA completions by the end of this academic year.
If you are still worried that you are not able to finish your FA, please speak to your FA learning provider in the first instance.
SDS has worked with SQA on a range of support for learners taking Foundation Apprenticeships during the pandemic to give them the best chance to complete.
SQA has also recently reviewed all national qualifications. This includes National Certificates, National Progression Awards and Skills for Work qualifications included within Foundation Apprenticeships at L4/5 and L6. Where it was needed, revised guidance was given to the Foundation Apprenticeship learning providers to support the completion of learning and assessment.
Despite these developments, SDS recognises that the disruption has affected delivery, and in some cases, learning is behind schedule. With nearly all secondary school students returning to school by the end of April, SDS is working closely with learning providers, colleges and schools to support FA completions by the end of this academic year.
If you are still worried that you are not able to finish your FA, please speak to your FA learning provider in the first instance. If you cannot complete this year and would like to return next academic year to finish, please let your learning provider know and they will inform SDS. You may be able to defer some of your learning, depending on your individual circumstances.
What you need to do depends on the type of the learning that is outstanding. Some practical learning activity cannot be done by distance/online learning, and in these cases it is very likely that you will be asked to attend your learning provider’s location to complete these aspects through face-to–face activities.
If you are on a L4/5 Foundation Apprenticeship in either Automotive, Construction or Hospitality, due to the practical learning within these frameworks it is very likely that you will be required to return to face-to-face delivery at the learning provider’s location to complete.
If you are on a L6 Foundation Apprenticeship, in most cases you should be able to complete the learning through distance/online learning.
L6 subjects that are more likely to require your return to college/provider locations are Engineering and other subject areas which require specialist facilities such as scientific labs or practical workspaces.
The AAT Accountancy FA end exam must also be undertaken within exam conditions which will require on-site access to complete.
For more information on what you may need to do, please speak to your learning provider who will be able to update you on their planned approach. Your provider will also be in contact with your school to discuss arrangement enabling you to complete remaining aspects of your Foundation Apprenticeship.
Foundation Apprenticeship certificates will be issued before Results Day on 10 August 2021. When you receive your results for other qualifications on the 10 August from SQA, your certificate of achievement record will also include your FA.
When you receive your qualification results on the 10 August, your certificate of achievement from SQA will confirm all elements that you have achieved from taking the Foundation Apprenticeship. These can be added to your CV to demonstrate the knowledge, understanding and skills that you have gained.
Yes, if your provider processes evidence that you have attained at a later date you will receive your certificate of achievement at that time.
SDS, local authorities, schools, colleges, and independent learning providers monitor all Scottish Government guidelines regarding safe working practices within education, skills, and employment environments. Foundation Apprenticeships have been amended so that a blended approach to face to face and on-line learning allows learners the opportunities to complete all elements of the qualifications. New arrangements have been put into place, which will ensure necessary practical elements can be completed by the end of the academic year.
Your school and learning provider will guide you through a detailed outline of the course requirements and how these will be delivered. This will be tailored to meet your needs.
The blended approach of a mixture of face to face and on-line learning will continue to be supported by your school, learning provider and local authority, until it is safe for work placements and face to face learning in school, college and employers’ premises to commence.
Yes. SDS is working with everyone involved in delivering Foundation Apprenticeships to make sure there’s necessary flexibility in place for anyone undertaking their second year. Your school and learning provider will keep you up to date with all arrangements.
If you want to find out more and Learning Provider application process, you can submit an Expressions of Interest at:
https://www.apprenticeships.scot/become-an-apprentice/foundation-apprenticeships/
You can also speak to your guidance teacher and school careers adviser to help with this.
Work based learning involves a mix of both physical and remote work placements, project- based activity, employer contact, including mentoring and industry challenges. SDS will continue to follow the Scottish Government’s guidance on safe working practices and suitable work- based learning opportunities.
SDS will work with local authorities and schools to ensure FA learners can undertake practical elements in line with all health and safety guidance, including full return to school for senior phase pupils at the end of the Spring Break in April 2021.
Although your local careers centre is currently closed in line with the government COVID-19 guidance, you can still get careers advice.
Careers advisers are available over the phone or online. If you want to speak to your school careers adviser, you can call your local centre and ask for them by name. You can also phone 0800 917 8000 to be put in touch with your local SDS team or visit https://www.myworldofwork.co.uk/
You should continue to follow Scottish Government guidelines. Information and advice is available online at https://www.gov.scot/coronavirus-covid-19/
Public health advice can be found at: Coronavirus (COVID-19) on NHS Inform at https://www.nhsinform.scot/
If you are feeling anxious or stressed, you can find advice on looking after your mental well-being, please see Well-being Support. https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/coronavirus-covid-19/your-mental-wellbeing/coronavirus-covid-19-your-mental-wellbeing
You may also be experiencing personal issues such as bereavement, addiction, or domestic abuse. You can find information on a wide range of topics, including the support available to you if you have been affected by any of the issues, at BBC Action Line https://www.bbc.co.uk/actionline/
We understand that many apprentices are feeling unsettled at the moment and you’ll be worried about not being able to attend your placement or school.
Your learning provider contact is also available for ongoing support during your Foundation Apprenticeship.
You’ll receive Statutory Sick Pay if you need to self-isolate because:
If you have symptoms, you must self-isolate for 7 days. If someone in your household has COVID-19 then you need to stay home and self-isolate for 14 days.
Make sure to tell your employer and learning provider as soon as possible if you can’t come to work. Apply for an isolation note on the NHS website to give to your employer. You should let them know the reason and how long you expect to be off for.
Some employers might offer more than Statutory Sick Pay and this detail will be in your contract.
In this situation, you would take a break from your apprenticeship and resume when you return to work. Please contact your learning provider to let them know of any changes – including when you stop working and when you return to work.
If you were put on unpaid leave on or after 28 February 2020, you're eligible to be ‘furloughed’ as part of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. It’s up to your employer whether they choose to use this scheme or not. More information on furlough is available in the question above.
If you have been made redundant, please notify your training provider as soon as possible so that we can put support in place and implement the redundancy processes.
There are a number of support measures available:
Apprentice Transition Plan - If you're an apprentice who has been made redundant or unemployed as a result of COVID-19 the Apprentice Transition Plan service can help you find new work or move to further learning.
Adopt an Apprentice - We also provide support through the Adopt an Apprentice scheme, which can help find new employment for apprentices with other employers that are able to support.
Career Information, Advice and Guidance - SDS CIAG colleagues continue to offer the SDS all-age career guidance service during the pandemic. Individuals can contact their local SDS team or visit myworldofwork.co.uk.
Online Learning Portal - SDS has introduced an Online Learning Portal in response to COVID-19, connecting people with thousands of free-to-access online learning materials. Working closely with learning providers, additional resources will be added in the coming weeks and months.
PACE - The Scottish Government’s Partnership for Continuing Employment (PACE) is a well-established service to support individuals and employers dealing with redundancy. To find out more, please visit the PACE website redundancyscotland.co.uk or call 0800 917 8000.
For resources and advice on looking after your mental well-being, please see Well-being Support.
You may also be experiencing personal issues such as bereavement, addiction or domestic abuse. You can find information on a wide range of topics, including the support available to you if you have been affected by any of the issues, at BBC Action Line
The Scottish Government is offering clear guidance to employers on what staff are considered key workers.
To find out more about childcare and learning provision for key workers, see the Scottish Government website.
Many working parents are trying to juggle work and childcare, advice on how to manage this situation can be found at Flexibility Works.
Balancing work and childcare can be demanding and exhausting, so it’s important that you look after your well-being during this time. For information and resources to help, please see Well-being Support. If you are struggling, it’s best to speak to your employer as soon as possible to see if you can find a suitable compromise which works for you both.
Information on time off to look after dependants can be found on the ACAS website.
Advice for unpaid carers, including information on funding and support available to you, can be found on the Scottish Government website.
Yes, you can still apply for any vacancies that are available on our site. Some employers are still recruiting and uploading jobs to apprenticeships.scot.
HR professionals and recruitment advisers will more than likely be working from home following the government’s COVID-19 guidance. So, your vacancy application may take longer than usual to process.
The employer has your details from your application, so they’ll still be able to contact you through phone, text or email.
If a considerable amount of time has passed since the closing date and you have not heard from the employer, there’s nothing wrong with sending a polite enquiry. But please allow a longer time for replies from the employer you contact.
If you’ve reached the interview stage, it’s very likely there will a change to normal procedure. As the government has advised us all to practice physical distancing, then some employers may have plans in place for online interviews and recruitment. Please get in touch with the employer you’re scheduled to interview with for more information.
If the employer is still scheduling face-to-face interviews, you shouldn't be afraid to request a video interview if you feel this would be better for you. You should give the employer plenty of notice around this request and make sure you have the necessary equipment for the video call. Please keep in mind the employer does not have to grant your request.
Others may postpone recruitment or defer the interview to a later date. You should ask the employer if you will have to reapply or if your initial application will be valid.
If your interview is cancelled, then you could express your interest in the role, explain you understand the circumstances and state your availability to be contacted at a later date if things change.
Employers are still recruiting during the COVID-19 pandemic. If you were recently successful in your apprenticeship application but have still to start the role, you should contact your new employer as soon as possible.
They’ll provide information about your induction and the next steps you should take to begin your apprenticeship. You should also contact your learning provider to understand if and how you will access training remotely.
Yes, you can start a new apprenticeship if you are on furlough.
Furloughed employees can also apply for apprenticeship vacancies advertised by employers on Apprenticeships.scot