Reference year 2019
1Scheme history
Graduate Apprenticeships were introduced from 2014 onwards
Graduate Apprenticeships were introduced to support employers who want to invest in their staff by providing employees with work-based learning up to SCQF level 11 (EQF level 7).
2Beneficiaries
Graduate Apprenticeships are aimed at those aged 16 and over providing that the apprentice is in employment.
There is no age data published with regards to apprentices enrolled in Graduate Apprenticeships.
Graduate Apprenticeship Data
Phase 1 (September 2017):
For September 2017, 379 Graduate Apprentices places were contracted across 9 learning providers and 4 programmes (frameworks) with 278 Graduate Apprenticeship starts. These 278 starts were reported in 2017/2018 Modern Apprenticeship statistical publication[1].
A detailed report on Graduate Apprenticeships was published in August 2019 and can be found at https://www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/media/45882/ga-report-2019…
In the financial year 2018/19 there were an average of 2,500 learners.
[1] https://www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/media/44711/modern-apprenti…
3Qualifications
The degrees included in the Graduate Apprenticeship programmes are designed specifically for the programmes.
Graduate Apprenticeships – These include degrees at SCQF levels 9 to 11 (EQF levels 6 to 7).
A Graduate Apprenticeship will take up to four years to complete.
4Governance
Skills Development Scotland (SDS) administers the Scotland Apprenticeship Scheme (Programme) on behalf of Scottish Government, which incorporates Foundation Apprenticeships (FAs), Modern Apprenticeships (MAs) and Graduate Apprenticeships (GAs).
Graduate Apprenticeships are developed through ongoing consultation with employers*, universities, professional bodies and qualifications authorities in the form of technical expert groups (TEGs). The TEGs act as an advisory group on behalf of the sector and are based on the premise that industry provides the expertise to identify the skills and knowledge they need for a competent graduate workforce. The academic representatives develop the programme, quality standards and alignment to professional accreditation required for delivery of the award.
*If there is an employer association in place then it would be part of the consultations. Scottish Government is keen that actual employers are involved in the design of apprenticeship schemes and not just representative bodies.
Graduate Apprenticeships are built on a partnership between single employers and learning providers. The work-based learning component of Graduate Apprenticeship is a significant and central part of the degree. The apprentice will undertake a programme leading to a degree on a part time basis. As full-time employees, apprentices are undertaking the degree on a part time basis as opposed to undertaking the degree on a full time basis and not working. Their work setting and support from their employer will be central to the contextualisation of their learning - Skills, knowledge and competence will be integrated.
Learning providers and employers establish partnerships specifically to deliver a work-based degree. Employers have an equal role in the delivery and assessment of the programme. Employers will also have a role in the selection and ongoing support such as mentoring and in the range of quality assurance systems and processes.
5Training at the workplace
There is no legal framework but the design rules state that it is expected that the apprentices will spend approximately 80% of the time in the workplace and 20% in the university.
Although there is no legal framework, the design rules require the Graduate Apprentice to spend most of their time in the workplace but they are also required to attend university.
Skills Development Scotland requires that there is an Individual Training Plan in place between the employer, the apprentice and the university.
If there is no alternation the university will take the lead in drawing up the training plan but works closely with the employer and apprentice. SDS monitors the implementation of the training plan (as it does with Foundation and Modern Apprenticeships.
As Graduate Apprentices are employees, the employer is required to ensure that it provides the apprentice with the facilities, training and work place opportunities necessary to achieve the selected outcomes specified in the apprentice’s Individual Training Plan.
As above, given that the Graduate Apprentices are employees, the employer must have the facilities, training and work place opportunities in place.
SDS undertakes quality assurance monitoring of Graduate Apprenticeships. This includes ensuring that the universities who deliver Apprenticeship training programmes meet national quality assurance standards for national training programmes.
6Contract and compensation
For Graduate Apprenticeships, the apprentice is an employee.
Graduate Apprenticeships - all apprentices are employees so there will be a contract of employment between the employer and the apprentice.
There is a requirement for an Individual Training Plan agreed and signed by the employer, the apprentice and university
All Graduate Apprentices are required to be employed.
The contract of employment will be held by the employer with the apprentice receiving a copy.
The Individual Training Plan is held by the training provider and monitored by SDS in the case of publicly funded apprenticeships.
All Graduate Apprentices receive a wage.
The only legislation that would relate is the minimum wage legislation. The wage would therefore be set by the employer providing that it is line with minimum wage legislation. With Graduate Apprenticeships, this a matter between the employer and the apprentice
7Financing and incentives
Employers pay the apprentices their wage.
For Graduate Apprenticeships, the learning cost is currently fully funded by the State for the duration of the course. This is paid directly to the college or university. The employer pays the apprentices a salary.
Because graduate apprentices are full time employees, the wages that they are paid will cover time spent in the workplace and also the time spent at university.