MORE Glasgow pupils than ever before will take up Foundation Apprenticeships at city colleges this autumn.

Nearly 700 places have been made available across City of Glasgow College, Glasgow Clyde College and Glasgow Kelvin College, as part of a collaboration with 350 leading employers including Network Rail, Scottish Water, AXA and the Glasgow Science Centre.

Glasgow Times: Foundation apprentices from City of Glasgow College (Francis Anameje pictured front right)Foundation apprentices from City of Glasgow College (Francis Anameje pictured front right) (Image: Glasgow Colleges Regional Board)

The apprenticeships last one or two years and young people spend time out of school at college or with a local employer and complete the course alongside their other subjects.

Francis Anameje, 17, who attends St. Margaret Mary’s Secondary School in Castlemilk, is studying a Foundation Apprenticeship in software development at City of Glasgow College. He said: “College has been amazing so far. I decided to choose this apprenticeship because it gives me hands on experience plus a view of the world of work. I’m interested in cyber security, so software development is the way for me to push towards getting a cyber security degree at university.”

Shawlands Academy pupil, 16-year-old Keira Kabetu, is in the second year of studying a Foundation Apprenticeship in social services for children and young people at Glasgow Clyde College.

Keira said: “I like working with children and when I’m older I want to have a job in child psychology. It’s been a really good experience so far and I’ve enjoyed learning about cognitive and emotional development. I want to go to Glasgow Clyde College next year and then to university to study child psychology.”

Glasgow Times: Corie McSween, left, is one of Kelvin College's FAs this year.Corie McSween, left, is one of Kelvin College's FAs this year. (Image: Glasgow Colleges Regional Board)

Corie McSween, a sixth year pupil at Bishopbriggs Academy, will spend three days a week at Glasgow Kelvin College this year, completing a one-year civil engineering Foundation Apprenticeship. Corie said: “I’ve always been interested in engineering and when my Guidance Teacher at school spoke about the Foundation Apprenticeship, I was really keen to experience it and see what it would be like to be an engineer. I really like being on campus, getting to meet my fellow students and being involved in college life.”

Martin Boyle, Executive Director of Glasgow Colleges’ Regional Board, said: “Regional Foundation Apprenticeships offer students a wider range of learning and career opportunities while meeting regional skills needs, supporting employers’ needs and strengthening our region’s economic future.”  

For more information and to apply for future opportunities visit http://www.fapglasgow.scot/.