Economic Impact of Aberdeenshire's Foundation Apprenticeships
Foundation Apprenticeships as a well-designed career pathway programme create significant economic and social value. Aberdeenshire’s FA model delivers positive outcomes for young people, employers and generates substantial returns on investment.
Our recent Economic Impact Assessment found:
✅ Every £1 invested generates £4.65 in quantified economic benefit (Benefit Cost Ratio of 4.65:1)
✅ An estimated £4.42 million return to the Exchequer, equivalent to £1.84 for every £1 of public investment
✅ The 2025/26 cohort contributed to approximately 33 avoided NEET outcomes, generating an estimated £959,000 Exchequer benefit through reduced youth disengagement
✅ Reduced NEET outcomes alone account for a return equivalent to 31% of annual programme costs
✅ Using HM Treasury Green Book principles and The Scottish Government ESIF valuations, Foundation Apprenticeships – Aberdeenshire Council Apprenticeships are estimated to generate £11.18 million in lifetime economic benefits every year through Modern Apprenticeship and Higher Education pathways alone
Investment in young people is not simply the right thing to do. It is one of the smartest economic investments we can make.
An additional Employment uplift of 7.62 % points is a material programme outcome but not included in the figures due to availability of sufficiently robust data and evidence.
Bringing Learning to Life!
Education Support Officer, Ali Hynd brought together pupils from Aberdeenshire Foundation Apprenticeships and Perth & Kinross Council for a visit to Robert Gordon University. The students received an in-depth tour of the Scott Sutherland School of Architecture & Built Environment. The pupils were learning about the opportunities available within the Global Infrastructure and Built Environment Course. Great discussion was had about the pathway from school to Architecture Technology, linking the school curriculum to University pathways, involving industry in the co-design of coursework to better prepare our young people for the transition from school and beyond. Bringing learning to life!
Thank you to Dr Jonathan Scott FCIAT SFHEA for taking the time to work with our young people.
Thank you also to James Philp for a tour of the Electrical and Engineering School discussing opportunities there and the fly of the Blue Robotics ROV.
OECD Report
The OECD report ‘Career Pathways in a Rapidly Changing World’ is due to be published in March 2024. As an interim update the OECD published a blog Blending applied and academic learning: Scotland’s Foundation Apprenticeships
Scotland's Foundation Apprenticeships: Preparing Students for the Future of Work
The Rodel-Cast
The most recent Rodel Foundation podcast (Rodel carried out the OECD research) also features Scotland’s Foundation Apprenticeships and is at the following links:
Scientific Technologies FA Placement at Leiths Ltd.
Feedback from Wieslawa our FA Tutor – “I wanted to take a moment to share how well our FA SciTech pupils are performing during their placements. Today, I had the pleasure of observing Henry from Portlethen Academy, and I must say, he truly shone. Not only was he exceptionally well-prepared, but he also spoke with great confidence and professionalism. As a result of his impressive performance, Henry has been offered a summer placement and has also received a voucher for M&S as well as a certificate of workplace compliance from Leiths. In addition, Leiths wrote a wonderful article about our apprentices, and they’ve kindly offered us the opportunity to share Henry’s experience with their company. It’s a joy to see our pupils excelling, and we’re incredibly proud of their hard work and dedication!”
Leiths Newsletter Issue 21 – Magazine – Page 17
Special thanks go to Wieslawa and Leiths Ltd for sharing this good news story. It is fantastic to hear of the impact made by employers and staff on our young people, influencing them positively for their future career pathways in the Scientific Technologies sector.
Watch this space for more exciting updates from Scientific Technologies in 2025!
Work Placement and Engagement Perspectives
It has been a busy term for all of our Level 6 Foundation Apprenticeship frameworks. Click on the following links to find out what exciting opportunities have been available to our young people in the last eight weeks of delivery and placement.
-
Food & Drink Technologies FA – Mackie’s of Scotland Work Placement
-
Food & Drink Technologies FA – Mackie’s of Scotland Work Placement
-
Accountancy FA Placement – SBP Accountants & Business Advisers (SBP)
- Business Skills FA –
- FA Sci Tech Professional Development Day at RGU –
- FA Health and Social Care Professional Development Day with NHS at RGU –
FA Health & Social Care Professional Development Day with NHS at RGU
- FA Children and Young People –
Social Services: Children and Young People Newsletter December Edition 2024
