A Modern Apprenticeship is a job which lets people earn a wage and gain an industry-recognised qualification through work-based learning. It’s an opportunity open to both new hires and existing employees who are over the age of 16. There is now no upper age limit for participating in the Modern Apprenticeship Programme.

Work-based learning is an excellent way to help staff learn new skills while continuing to fulfil their job role. They typically take 12 to 18 months for a learner to complete. There is no cost to the employer for the training opportunity beyond the existing cost of the employees’ wages/salary.  

As an SQA Training Centre, we deliver three different Modern Apprenticeship qualifications. Museums & Galleries Technician Modern Apprenticeship, Digital Marketing Modern Apprenticeship, and Management Modern Apprenticeship.

Hosting a Modern Apprentice is a great way to bring new skills and new perspectives into your organisation. Whether you’re looking to develop the skills of existing staff or bring in new talent to your team. Some benefits to hosting an apprentice in your organisation include:

• Greater financial resilience through developing skills and confidence in staff
• Bringing new, diverse perspectives into your workforce
• Offering opportunities for career growth and increasing staff retention
• Developing existing staff through supported coaching and mentoring
• Providing people of all ages diverse routes of entry into the heritage sector.
• Access to a mentor for your apprentice with relevant sector experience

Becoming a mentor to an Modern Apprentice allows you to become familiar with the scheme and how it works, even if hosting one in your organisation isn’t the right fit for now. The mentoring programme is an opportunity for sector workers to share their knowledge and experience with apprentices and set them up for their future careers. This is a voluntary position and will last 12 months. Find out more about becoming a Modern Apprentice Mentor. 

Skills Development Scotland have created an interactive guide to support employers who have never hosted a Modern Apprentice before. Our Workforce Development team are also available to help answer your questions if you’re thinking about offering an apprenticeship in your museum or gallery.

We deliver a limited number of Digital Marketing Modern Apprenticeships across Scotland annually. 

As we spend more time online, digital marketing has become an essential way to reach larger audiences than through traditional marketing methods. Hosting a Digital Marketing Modern Apprentice in your museum or gallery is an ideal way to increase your organisation’s digital capabilities. The qualification allows the learner to choose a variety of different units to develop the skills needed to be a Digital Marketing professional. As part of the apprenticeship, learners will gain a Diploma in Digital Marketing at SCQF level 6.  

Some of the benefits of hosting a Digital Marketing Modern Apprenticeship in your organisation includes:  

• Grow and reach new audiences 
• Create digital media content in-house 
• Learn skills in E-Commerce, Email Marketing, and Search Engine Optimisation
• Develop and establish a professional social media following and build a tailored online presence
• Develop a marketing strategy

Please note this opportunity is open to Scottish organisations in Lowlands and Uplands local authority areas.

The Museum & Galleries Technician Modern Apprenticeship launched in 2022 and supports learners to demonstrate their understanding of the museums and galleries sector. The range of optional units on offer means the apprenticeship can be tailored to meet the needs of individuals undertaking a variety of roles in museums including visitor services, curatorial, learning and engagement, and maintenance.  

Learners will demonstrate their competency through practical experience. Museums and Galleries Technician Modern Apprenticeship involves the completion of SVQ 3 Museums and Galleries Practice at SCQF 7.  

Some of the benefits of hosting a Museums & Galleries Technician Modern Apprentice in your organisation includes:  

• Upskilling staff in core elements of museum practice including collections care and customer service.  
• Providing opportunities for staff to develop and hone new skills through the development of continuous professional development plans and a range of optional units on subjects ranging from museum interpretation to fundraising and preventative conservation. 
• The delivery of high-quality projects which adhere to best practice and organisational guidelines.  
• Attracting and retaining ambitious staff members by investing in their career progression. 

Please note this opportunity is open to Scottish organisations in both Highlands and Islands and Lowlands and Uplands local authority areas.

We deliver a limited number of The Management Modern Apprenticeship at SCQF level 7 within the Lowlands and Uplands Local Authority areas.

A Management Modern Apprenticeship allows candidates to demonstrate competence in job-related skills in their area of work and expertise. It has been developed to support those working as first line managers, section managers, assistant managers, trainee managers, senior supervisors, and those working in a range of other management positions.

This vocational qualification allows learners to tailor their apprenticeship to support their organisations and individual needs, developing efficiencies and processes to support their working objectives.

There is a mix of knowledge and practical aspects to the apprenticeship and it’s an opportunity open to both new hires and existing employees who are over the age of 16. There is no upper age limit for participating in the Modern Apprenticeship Programme.

Please note this opportunity is open to Scottish organisations in Lowlands and Uplands local authority areas.

Undertaking an apprenticeship can be a life changing opportunity for someone. Particularly people who have experienced barriers to work or study. Several of our former apprentices have shared their positive experience and the value they personally gained from their time learning their qualification.