From success to success for Laura

Laura Fraser, Business Transformation Manager at Forth Valley College , has had many reasons to celebrate recently. In the past week Laura formally graduated with First Class Honours in her Business Management Graduate Apprenticeship degree programme.

Prior to that Laura was awarded the Deputy Principal’s Award for the 2021-22 Academic year, recognising academic excellence in students who achieve Grade A – or equivalent – in six or more courses studied as part of their undergraduate degree during one year – just as she did for the 2020-21 Academic year. And as if that was not enough recognition, she also won the Edinburgh Business School, Heriot-Watt University Business School prize for the Graduate Apprenticeship Business Management Programme – the highest GPA in Final Year of Study (Honours Year).

Laura was the first member of staff at Forth Valley College to embark on a Graduate Apprenticeship. We asked Laura to reflect on the benefits of doing a Business Management GA.

“Being able to learn and study while working was an excellent benefit as I could relate my learning directly to my workplace. The networking opportunities with the other GAs from public and private sector was also really appealing as we could share current industry practices and then cascade my learning to other colleagues in FVC.

The attraction of being able to develop the management tools and knowledge needed to have a deeper understanding of business practices would ultimately improve my skills, increase the quality of my work and help progress my career.”

Now, after four years completing the programme, Laura can look back with pride on her Graduate Apprenticeship journey.

“I would like to say that this GA qualification has changed my life and given me the opportunity to transform my career pathway. It should never be underestimated the power of learning and how much it can impact someone and the GA Programme and faculty has created this impact on me.

I would highly recommend this programme to anyone thinking of doing some professional development. It has given me a greater insight to my organisation, I have become more confident, reflective and critical in my working practices. It has further confirmed that I thrive being part of project management, change management and business consultancy.”

James Aston, Laura’s workplace mentor, also shared his thoughts on how she was able to apply her learning in the workplace and continues to do so.

“At work, Laura continues to apply what she has learned in her GA to her role, Laura has successfully completed a number of high profile, cross-college, projects such as implementing an EPOS, Staff Workroom Upgrade, move to our new ￡78million Falkirk Campus and ensuring that the College met GDPR compliance. These have not only given her experience of implementing key college developments, but also dealing with all levels of college management, staff and key stakeholders, internally and externally.”

You can read Laura’s full case study here.