Babcock helps local young people to get a head-start in their engineering career
An initiative offering young people a new route towards a career in engineering is helping one major employer identify new talent.
Babcock International Group (Babcock), based near Helensburgh have developed a pre-apprenticeship programme aimed at S5 and S6 pupils in the surrounding local authority areas.
The company is one of the largest employers in West Dunbartonshire and Inverclyde, delivering critical services to defence and civil sectors worldwide, including engineering support for naval, land, air and nuclear operations.
Developed in collaboration with Skills Development Scotland (SDS) and West College Scotland, the programme aims to widen access to opportunities for school pupils living in nearby areas.
With some school-leavers having not achieved the qualifications which would allow them to apply directly for a Modern Apprenticeship, the programme offers an alternative route towards a career, providing valuable experience and skills, such as core engineering principles, mechanical and electrical workshop skills and meta-skills for career progression. An integrated programme of classroom and hands-on learning, the initiative equips young people with the skills, confidence, and practical experience necessary to succeed in a highly competitive industry.
SDS enabled discussions between Babcock and West College Scotland to help develop the offer and provided funding to support the pilot programme.
Gordon McGuinness, Director of Industry and Enterprise Networks at SDS said “The programme is an excellent collaboration connecting our future talent to an organisation committed to developing advanced engineering skills. It’s genuinely a model of best practice and all the partners should be proud of the programme’s achievements.”
The programme has been successful to date. In its first year, 90% of participants successfully secured a Modern Apprenticeship with Babcock. The current second year of the programme increased its cohort, with 22 students enrolled on the course.
Rebecca Nicholls, Early Careers Manager with Babcock said “This programme is a fantastic example of how collaboration can open doors for young people who might otherwise miss out on opportunities in engineering. At Babcock, we’re committed to building a diverse and skilled workforce, and this initiative allows us to identify and support emerging talent early on. It’s incredibly rewarding to see these students grow in confidence and capability, and we’re proud to be part of their journey into meaningful careers.”
Sam Thomson, Head of Sector - Engineering Technologies at West College Scotland added “The Babcock pre-apprenticeship school initiatives introduced at West College Scotland, in synergy with the Employer and our Local Authority partners in West Dunbartonshire and Inverclyde, has been a magnificent addition to our curriculum portfolio.
“The initiative enhances opportunities to employment through our Engineering Modern Apprenticeship programmes and provides learners with another route to employment to meet the entry requirements to articulate to a Modern Apprenticeship with Babcock.
“Key performance statistics for this session indicate that approximately 92% of enrolments have been successful in gaining employment with Babcock.
“The learners return to West College Scotland, and the Engineering Teams can continue to teach, and assess the cohorts to focus on professional competence.”
Recruitment for the third year of the programme is complete, with 24 students ready to start in the new academic year, continuing to enable access to apprenticeships at Babcock for young people in West Dunbartonshire and Inverclyde, and producing potential engineers of the future.
Visit apprenticeships.scot for more information on apprenticeships.