Functional Skills
Why does my apprenticeship include functional skills?
Good levels of English, maths and digital skills are essential for business. Employers highly value these skills and a Level 2 in these subjects is a requirement for many courses and careers. These essential skills are transferable to any job, and there are many benefits which enable you to perform confidently and successfully in work and your personal life. There is also evidence that having a good level of essential skills contributes to your mental health, life expectancy and earning potential in rewarding employment.
Why do employers value these skills?
Because in real terms, they help with:
- Professionally representing the organisation
- Customer service
- Understanding information
- Clearly putting forward opinions and ideas
- Presentation skills
- Influencing and negotiation
- Networking
- Report writing
- Securing work/funding
- Confidence to speak up in meetings
- First impressions
- Team working and problem solving
- Logical thinking and attention to detail
- Data analysis and calculations
- Learning computer packages quickly
- Adaptability and flexibility to work digitally
- Efficiency and simplifying the complicated
Why English?
Good reading, writing, verbal and listening communication skills are vital to deliver and understand information quickly and accurately. These skills are applicable and advantageous to any job and many areas of our personal lives.
Why Maths?
Employers want people with excellent communication skills, but they also want people who can think logically and solve problems. The skills you learn in maths are often useful in everyday life, but it’s how you get to the answer that make maths qualifications so highly regarded.
Why ICT?
Having good digital (ICT) skills can enable you to work more efficiently and produce work in the clearest and most user-friendly way. Most organisations use some form of ICT and more and more things are going digital. Keeping your digital skills current is extremely important to keep up with the pace of change.
Have a question about functional skills? Got a question about end point assessment? Email apprenticeships@salfordcc.ac.uk