EnerMech has signed up as one of the first businesses in Scotland to support Graduate Level Apprenticeships (GLAs).
The Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen is pioneering the work-based learning degrees which have been set up to address the national digital skills shortage.
EnerMech will support an undergraduate apprentice on the IT Management for Business BSc (Hons) course which is being run by the university’s School of Computing Science and receives funding support from Skills Development Scotland.
GLAs enable participants to earn a degree while working and they are delivered in partnership with employers over the course of four years. Much of the learning takes place in the workplace with active involvement from the employer and EnerMech has signed a Collaboration Agreement with RGU to define how we will support the apprentice during the course.
Shirley Smith, HR Director at EnerMech said: “We see the introduction of the GLA as a great way to improve the skills base of our existing personnel. It also gives us the opportunity to hire people straight from school and have them working in the business and learning all aspects while studying to achieve a degree.
“We currently employ engineers who have varying levels of qualifications and experience. Having access to the course gives us the ability to develop our people and retain greater skills in the business for the future.”
Professor John Harper, Deputy Principal at RGU, said: “We are delighted that EnerMech has come on board in support of the GLA initiative which represents a major milestone for the university and for work-based learning opportunities in Scotland.
“GLAs represent an innovation across teaching and learning, built around a structure which formally recognises the value of time in the workplace as part of a learning environment.”