College team wins award for supporting apprentices

The College’s Care team, comprising staff from both Health and Social Care and Children and Young People, won the Innovation in Learning Provision Award. This celebrates a learning provider who has developed new or innovative ways to support learning and skills development for apprentices.

The pandemic has hit everyone hard but the Care industry has been at the forefront while also facing a reduction in its workforce due, in part, to Brexit constraints. Meanwhile, young people have had to adjust to new ways of learning, socialising and working.

Covid restrictions meant Foundation Apprentice learners could not attend work placements as normal so the College came up with creative approaches to work-based learning. This included remote placements and work-based activities where facilities replicated a real-life workplace.

Regional data showed an increasing skills issue in the Care sector so by expanding and strengthening its employer connections, the College provided support where and when it was needed most. It quadrupled Modern Apprenticeship (MA) opportunities – at the last count it has engaged with 40 employers in the MA scheme.

Carol Bain, Head of Curriculum and Quality for Health and Social Care at D&A College, says, “The Care team is absolutely delighted to accept this award and be recognised for their hard work, resolve and creativity during a pandemic. It is testament to their professional values and team ethos that they have been able to support and develop apprentices to achieve.”

The Scottish Apprenticeship Awards winners were announced last night at an online event during Scottish Apprenticeship Week which is running until this Friday.