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FM announces the Modern Apprenticeship target hit for third consecutive year.

First Minister Alex Salmond underlined the Scottish Government’s commitment to creating new Modern Apprentice opportunities to boost Scotland’s workforce skills and economy as he launched this year’s Scottish Apprenticeship Week.

Speaking during a visit to the East Kilbride Group Training Association premises where he met more than 100 Modern Apprentices, the First Minister announced that the Scottish Government’s target to create at least 25,000 new MAs each year has again been surpassed. A total of 77,402 new opportunities have been delivered over the past three years, the majority of which for young people, far exceeding any other period in the history of the qualification.

The figures come shortly after the First Minister announced the total of MAs to be created in future years will be increased year on year to at least 30,000 new MAs each year by 2020. The figures show:

• 25,284 new MAs in 2013/14
• An overall achievement rate of 77 per cent
• 79 per cent of new starts were aged 16 to 24, up 2 percentage points from last year
• 17,370 starts on Skills Development Scotland (SDS)’s Employability Fund over the same period, exceeding the annual target of 17,150.

The First Minister said:

“I am delighted to launch the fourth annual Scottish Apprenticeship Week which gives us an excellent opportunity to promote and celebrate the great work that apprentices are doing and the fantastic opportunities that many companies and organisations across Scotland are providing for our young people.

“I am very pleased to see that all of our efforts continue to reap rewards, with such a strong achievement rate over the past few years. Over 77,000 new starts is an incredible achievement and is testament to employers, training providers and, above all, our enthusiastic and talented young workforce.

“There is no complacency as much still needs to be done to tackle youth unemployment and that is why only a matter of weeks ago I pledged to implement a year on year increase to 30,000 new MA starts each year by 2020.

“This year’s Scottish Apprenticeship Week will be an excellent opportunity to draw attention to the value that MAs could bring to employers, and help encourage them to make young people their business.”

Scottish Apprenticeship Week 2014, organised by Skills Development Scotland, will see more than 120 events celebrating apprenticeships taking place from Shetland to the Borders.

Damien Yeates, Skills Development Scotland Chief Executive, said:

“More than 25,000 Modern Apprenticeship new starts are testament to the efforts of employers and individual apprentices across the country. Scottish Apprenticeship Week celebrates Modern Apprentice employers and the achievements of apprentices, who play a vital and valuable role in Scotland’s economy. Skills Development Scotland will continue to support employers to provide more opportunities to help people develop their careers.”

Brian Boyle, Quality Assurance Manager of the East Kilbride Group Training Association, said:

“Over the last 40 years, EKGTA has helped thousands of talented school leavers achieve a career in engineering. Scottish Apprenticeship Week is important in raising the awareness of the value and benefit of the Modern Apprenticeship structure. Our employers need a steady stream of creative, hardworking bright young people to play an active role in driving their companies forward. Scotland has an abundance of well educated, enthusiastic individuals, we need to tap into this pool for the benefit of our companies, and the future prosperity of the country.”

Notes To Editors

Background

For further details about Scottish Apprenticeship Week 2014 visit:www.scottishapprenticeshipweek.com

For more information about what Modern Apprenticeships can do for business visit:www.ourskillsforce.co.uk

For more information on how to become a Modern Apprentice visit: www.myworldofwork.co.uk

Get involved on social media: #ScotMAWeek14