The Modern Apprenticeship Framework – Growing Tomorrow’s Engineers

Ged Freel delivered a passionate talk on the benefits of apprenticeships, at our meeting in the Savoy Park Hotel, on 21 November 2023.

Ged was brought up in Ayrshire and graduated in Mathematics from Glasgow University in 1989. In 1994, he became a lecturer at Kilmarnock College, lecturing in Maths, Physics, Chemistry & IT. Following college mergers in 2012, he was appointed Curriculum Manager for Engineering & Science at Kilmarnock’s Ayrshire College. In 2017, Ged then became Head of Learning and Skills encompassing Business and Computing at the College. Following recent portfolio changes at Ayrshire College this year, he is now Head of Engineering and Science.

It became clear that Ged believes apprenticeships can change people’s lives, citing several examples of students who had no desire to go to university, signed up for apprenticeships and found their niche. One such student was so successful, he later did go to university and eventually became a lecturer at the college! Another worked his way through several jobs and was so enthusiastic about apprenticeships in the workplace, he became apprenticeship mentor for a global business.
Modern apprenticeships generally involve a combination of college learning and workplace experience. There is a huge demand for engineers in Ayrshire, and the College works closely with a large number of them, even holding networking sessions to find out exactly what they need.

Ayrshire College offers places for SCQF4 to SCQF8. The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework is a benchmark system to help compare certificates across different geographical areas. SCQF4 is equivalent to National 4 awards gained at school and SCQF8 is up to HND level. Ayrshire College also offers graduate courses in conjunction with Glasgow and Strathclyde universities.

Ged finished by mentioning the initiative being fostered by Ieuan Issac and John Ewing, to develop a Tech Entrepreneurial Hub, which is gaining considerable support from several organisations and government bodies.

Ged answered several probing questions, before Charlie Steele delivered the vote of thanks, noting Ged’s excellent delivery style, combined with his enthusiasm for his subject.