Skills for Work Programme

 

The 'Skills for Work' programme is a new national course developed by SQA offered at the NAFC Marine Centre.  It gives school children (in secondary 3 or above) the opportunity to come to the Centre one day per week over the course of a year to undertake workshop-based engineering activities.

 

There are four modules offered:

• Engineering Skills - Mechanical
• Engineering Skills - Electrical and Electronic
• Engineering Skills - Fabrication
• Enginnering Skills - Manufacture and Assembly

 

Engineering lecturer at NAFC Marine Centre, Kenny Leask, speaks highly of the initiative.  He said: "This is a very interesting development for the Centre, allowing us to introduce students from all over Shetland into the colleage while they are still at school.

 

"At the end of the programme we hope to have provided students with employability skills that can set them off on the right foot for the future."

 

James Laurenson and Billy McDermott are both taking part in this year's programme.

 

James Laurenson said: "I've always wnated to work in the fishing industry and I thought that taking part in 'Skills for Work' would help me achieve that goal.  The studies are very in depth and will hopefully provide a lot of useful background information and skills for my chosen career."

 

Billy McDermott added: "It's a really worthwhile initiative, giving you real practical experience in engineering.  I want to apply for an apprenticeship and am hoping that taking part in 'Skills for Work' will give me points to my name."