Foundation Apprenticeship
Engineering
What's Engineering like?
Engineers bring ideas to life. They design, create, test and improve all sorts of products and processes. From James Watt’s steam engine to Andy Scott’s Kelpies, Scotland is great at engineering.
At the start of your engineering career, you can expect to earn around £30,000 per year. As you gain experience, your salary can rise to £70,000*. There are currently 9000 engineers working in Scotland.
This is a great time to start your engineering career as there's a huge demand for new talent. UK companies are always looking to employ people with engineering skills.
There are careers in many sectors including space, aviation, transport, medicine and fashion. You could work in roles such as:
- aerospace engineer
- chemical engineer
- electrical engineer
- mechanical engineer
- naval architect
You will not always be sitting at a desk. You might work in a laboratory, at sea, underground or a recording studio!
If you want to build a career in engineering, this Foundation Apprenticeship is for you. It's a unique opportunity to gain real workplace knowledge and experience. You'll also get an industry-recognised qualification.
(*Salary ranges from National Careers Service)
Where can it take me?
Your Foundation Apprenticeship gives you lots of options, including:
- Modern Apprenticeship: On completing your Foundation Apprenticeship, you’ll have already achieved core units of the Modern Apprenticeship in Engineering at SCQF level 6/7. You’ll have the right skills and experience to choose to progress to a related engineering Modern Apprenticeship.
- Graduate Apprenticeship: You’ll have the right skills and experience to progress to a Graduate Apprenticeship in an engineering subject.
- further education: Continue your studies at college with an HNC or HND in an engineering subject. Your workplace experience will support your college application.
- university: All Scottish universities recognise Foundation Apprenticeships as equal to SQA Highers. You’ll already have experience in the industry – this will make your UCAS stand out from the crowd. This apprenticeship also provides you with 56 UCAS tariff points. Find out more about points on the UCAS website.
- straight to a job: Use your qualification and work experience to find a job in the engineering industry.
What's the qualification?
You’ll gain a Foundation Apprenticeship in Engineering. This is the same level of learning as an SQA Higher, which is SCQF Level 6.
This includes:
- a National Certificate (NC) in an Engineering Discipline at SCQF Level 6, such as: Engineering Systems, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering
- core units of an SVQ in Performing Engineering Operations at SCQF level 5
- work placement experience or an industry challenge
What will I learn?
The topics you learn as part of your National Certificate depends on the area of engineering you study. These include:
- Engineering Systems
- Mechanical Engineering
- Aeronautical Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Fabrication and Welding Engineering
- Manufacturing Engineering
- Measurement and Control Engineering
To achieve your SVQ units, you’ll be assessed as part of your work placement. You’ll learn how to:
- comply with statutory regulations and organisational safety requirements
- use and interpret engineering data and documentation
- work efficiently and effectively in engineering
Your Foundation Apprenticeship will also help you to develop meta-skills. Employers value these skills, which include:
- communication
- problem-solving
- working with others
- time management
You'll need these transferable skills for working in a range of other related jobs.
Key facts
- You could progress to jobs within engineering and related industries
- Average salaries range from around £30,000 to £70,000 per year
- The qualification is equal to an SQA Higher (SCQF level 6)
How will it work?
You'll do the Foundation Apprenticeship alongside your other school subjects. You'll work on projects with an employer and a learning provider, such as a college. It'll give you an industry-recognised qualification that's great for your CV.
Read our brilliant info on the Engineering Foundation Apprenticeship to see how it all works!
How can I apply?
If you're staying on at school, you can apply for a Foundation Apprenticeship.
Use the search tool to find out if this subject is available at your school. Then fill out the form that comes next, to let us know you're interested. We'll get back to you with more information.