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Financial Services

Foundation Apprenticeship

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Description

This Foundation Apprenticeship gives pupils skills to prepare for a financial services career. You can support them to get a head start in business, accountancy and banking, for future roles such as:

  • banker

  • investment banker

  • financial advisor

  • pensions specialist

  • insurance broker

  • insurance underwriter

Examples of course units include:

National Progression Award (NPA)

  • Financial services: an introduction

  • Financial services: promoting positive customer relationships

SCQF

  • Improve and maintain your workplace competence in a financial services environment

  • Develop productive working relationships in a financial services environment

Apprenticeship framework(s)

Successful candidates will achieve a Foundation Apprenticeship in Financial Services at SCQF Level 6. This is the same level of learning as an SQA Higher.

SCQF qualification levels explained

Select Level 6 to see the framework document and qualification at that level.

Entry requirements

It's expected that pupils will have an interest in the sector. They don't need formal qualifications but should have a good level of maths and written and spoken English.

The pupil would select a Foundation Apprenticeship as a school subject choice. Then they'd go through a recruitment process arranged by the college, or other learning provider. It's great if you can get involved, too.

Progression and development

Pupils will get the skills, knowledge and competence to help them move on to:

  • a Modern Apprenticeship

  • more vocational training

  • further study at school or college

These will help them to prepare for working in financial services.

If you're looking to hire, Foundation Apprenticeships help you spot talented pupils. You can assess their skills on a longer term than a regular interview process would allow.

How does it work?

During the apprenticeship, each pupil must complete a work placement of about 1 day a week in S6. That helps them build the evidence needed to complete the units from the SVQ. The placement element will develop throughout the programme. This gives pupils the best opportunity to develop their practice.

Cost and funding

There’s no financial cost to you as an employer because the learner is still at school. But investing your time can bring rewards, with access to talented young people in your workplace.

How long will it take?

It can take 1 year or 2 years. Pupils study a Level 6 Foundation Apprenticeship as one of their school subjects, usually over S5 and/or S6.

What's next

Fill out our contact form and we'll connect you with your local learning provider who can talk to you about working with Foundation Apprenticeships.

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