How Our Pre-Apprenticeship Programme Promotes Partnership Approach to Skills Gap in Scotland

Making the decision to apply for an apprenticeship can be daunting. What kinds of skills do you learn? Is the interview hard? Is an apprenticeship even the right option for you?

Here at Historic Environment Scotland (HES), we're helping answer some of those big questions by developing a model for pre-apprenticeship delivery.

These short courses should help to answer some of those burning questions before committing to something longer term - and give applicants the skills and experience to ace the interview. They're also a way for us to work with partners across the sector to make sure we have a workforce with the skills needed to look after Scotland's incredible array of traditional buildings.

In this article, Craft Skills Programme Manager Karyn McGhee shares her experiences of developing two pre-apprenticeship pilot schemes together with project partners from Fife Council , Fife College and The Ridge SCIO in East Lothian.?

What's a pre-apprenticeship and who is it for??

There is no fixed type of pre-apprenticeship, but generally they are aimed at people who are looking to learn what an apprenticeship is like or want to gain some more experience before enrolling onto a modern apprenticeship. It can also support those who may be facing barriers to employment.

Our pre-apprenticeship programme focuses on craft skills. The idea is to train people in areas where there is potential for a prosperous career, and where there are currently craft skills shortages. The programme is designed to increase the number of opportunities available for heritage skills development in Scotland.

Participants gain employability skills and support to find a career, or a next place of study which is right for them. There is no age limit for our pre-apprenticeship programmes.?

To date, 36 people have gone through their pre-apprenticeship with our partners at Fife Council, Fife College and The Ridge in Dunbar.

Participants spent 16 weeks working with employers gaining real work experience. They worked towards a qualification in construction learning stonemasonry, roofing and joinery skills, and completed other construction training such as working towards a Construction Skills Certificate Scheme (CSCS) card.. They worked towards their driving theory certificate and also completed training in health and safety and first aid.

Another key component was employability skills and support. Each group received help with interview techniques, writing applications and finding jobs. Other benefits included improving communication, teamwork and taking initiative - all important skills to get them ready for the workplace. ?

Where do we come in?

Each of our partners has designed their own bespoke version of the course and delivers it in the best way for them and their students.

We've had open and ongoing discussion to help monitor, evaluate and improve our approach, making sure we can deliver the best experience for the students. Feedback from the pre-apprentices themselves has been vital to shaping the model of this programme.?

In addition to facilitating those conversations, we support the pre-apprenticeship programmes through funding, advice, and site visits to our Skills Training Centres and the historic places we look after.

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HES staff led pre-apprentices and staff from partner organisations on visits to:?

• The Engine Shed , our dedicated building conservation centre in Stirling?

• Our Stirling Skills Training Centre ?

• Stirling Castle ?

• Dunfermline Abbey and Palace , Fife?

• Tantallon Castle , East Lothian?

• Dirleton Castle , East Lothian.?

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On these visits, we led behind the scenes tours, discussed conservation and construction projects, talked about our apprenticeship programmes and showed how our digital research and innovations contribute to the conservation of heritage buildings.?

When asked for feedback on the course, highlights included:

"Being able to pick up skills in the trade I want to do."

"Working and making new friends."

"The stonemasonry course."

and

"The trip to the castle!"

What’s next??

Some participants are already looking to complete apprenticeships in the construction industry and others are thinking about careers in traditional skills such as stonemasonry, which they had never considered before.?

In 2025, we'll be looking to work with even more host partners to expand the pre-apprenticeship offer. Please do email us using [email protected] (marked FAO Craft Skills Programme Team) if you're interested in hosting and collaborating on a pre-apprenticeship!

If #HeritageCareersWeek has sparked your interest in joining us in the sector, whether as a pre-apprentice, apprentice or other role, try our Heritage Careers Quiz to see what might suit you best.

You can also explore the skills and training pages on our website. ?