South West College (SWC) are pleased to announce that from September 2021, they are offering six new Higher-Level Apprenticeships (HLAs), to add to the existing portfolio of nine HLA programmes that are already available locally at the college.
HLAs are a tripartite arrangement between the Higher Level Apprentice, the employer and SWC where the apprentice is employed from the outset, earning a salary while studying higher-level education and building a wealth of skills and knowledge which will enhance their earning capacity in the long term. HLAs also deliver on many levels for business in that employers can train staff to the level required for their needs.
Noreen McGirr, the HLA Programme Manager at SWC says “The world of work continues to change and it is widely recognised that there is a real need for higher-level skills, in addition to the higher-level academic qualifications and that the introduction of the new HLA Programmes at SWC, together with the existing portfolio, should successfully tackle this issue at a local level”.
A number of undersupplied subject areas have been identified in the NI Skills barometer, and to address the higher level skills gaps, SWC, in conjunction with local employers’ have designed a range of new HLA curriculum to ensure that they create the opportunities for students to build the high level of skills required for tomorrow’s economy.
The NEW HLAs at SWC are available in the following subject areas:
ENGINEERING
The introduction of the NEW Open University BEng (Hons) Degree in Engineering and the two NEW Level 4 Advanced Technician HLA in Engineering (HNC) as a HLA at SWC ensures that there is a full engineering pathway available locally, making SWC the only learning provider in Northern Ireland to offer the Engineering Apprenticeship Framework right through from Entry Level to Degree Level and allows students to enter and exit this framework at the level best suited to their needs while building essential industry experience which can only benefit the local industry.
CYBER SECURITY
Every business is at risk of a cyber-attack; however, it is not just the criminal attacks but the introduction of regulations such as GDPR means that organisation need to be more invested in Cyber Security than ever before. SWC has developed a NEW HLA Foundation Degree in Cyber Security to increase employee awareness ensuring they understand what cyber threats are, the potential impact on the business and the steps to reduce the risk and understand the role they play in strengthening a business’s cyber security.
ACCOUNTANCY
ACCA is the global body for professional accountants, and employers know and respect this qualification and value the skills taught. SWC as the only approved GOLD provider of this course in NI, has introduced the NEW HLA ACCA Applied Skills at SWC, which builds on the already successful HLA Accounting Technician (ATI) course and allows students to become qualified accountants where they gain the relevant supervised practical experience.
TRANSPORT & SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT
Now more than ever, Transport and Supply Chain Management plays a pivotal role in supporting the UK’s future economic success. Supply chain management is a cross-functional approach to procuring, producing, and delivering products and services to customers and for supply chains to be effective, material, money and information flows must be managed in a cohesive way. SWC has developed a NEW HLA Foundation Degree in Transport & Supply Chain Management which provides students with the core knowledge and the higher technical skills in transport and to gain an appreciation of the importance of a team approach in the modern and vibrant transport sector.
The HLA Programme is fully funded by the Department for the Economy, which means students are not liable for any fees and allows them to complete their Higher Education qualifications at SWC, while building their-high level skills and knowledge earning a salary in full time employment.
To find out more about the HLA Programmes on offer at South West College, please visit: https://www.swc.ac.uk/learn/apprenticeships/higher-level-apprenticeships