We supported businesses with their recruitment needs
by referring graduating students to their vacancies.
For example, over 50 graduating Performing
Engineering Operations students were matched to
engineering apprenticeship vacancies in 2014-15.
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‘GlaxoSmithKline Process
Manufacturing Apprentice’
We ensured that the right provision was available in
the right way to meet employer needs, for example
by introducing a day release Performing Engineering
Operations model requested by local employers and
by launching a City and Guilds Chemical Processing
qualification in partnership with GlaxoSmithKline.
Feedback from employers to Education Scotland
showed that they “value highly the flexibility of the
college delivery arrangements, which they negotiate
with the college to best suit their business needs.”
As a result of feedback from employers, course
provision was enhanced. For example, following the
launch of a specialist composites centre, the College
obtained accreditation to deliver composite training
to Renewable UK standards. Courses were developed
in collaboration with industry and validated by our
employer skills forums.
Throughout the year we hosted a series of workshops
aimed at encouraging young women into STEM,
including a Magnificent Women and their Flying
Machines workshop at our aerospace centre for 32
second year pupils from South Ayrshire schools, and
a Girls into STEM workshop for 40 second year pupils
from East Ayrshire schools. The College’s commitment
to addressing the gender imbalance in STEM courses
was acknowledged by Education Scotland who said:
The college is taking positive action to
“address
the need to recruit more females into
engineering apprenticeship programmes and is
involved in a number of initiatives to
progress this.
”
AYRSHIRE COLLEGE / QUALITY REPORT 2014/15
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