120 new apprentices
19 May 2014 04:28 PM
Amey puts
Scottish Apprenticeship Week 2014 on the road to success.
Road maintenance
firm Amey has marked the start of Scottish Apprenticeship Week 2014 by
committing to take on at least 120 new apprentices over the next two
years.
Cabinet Secretary
for Training, Youth and Women’s Employment Angela Constance has welcomed
the move, having met some existing young members of staff at Amey’s
Eurocentral headquarters.
She
said:
“I am very
pleased indeed to see that Amey are committed to helping Scotland’s
enthusiastic young workforce maximise their potential by taking on such a large
number of new Modern Apprentices (MAs) over the next few years.
“Companies
like Amey are vital to Scotland’s infrastructure and economy and these
new MAs will find themselves right at the heart of a number of projects that
are key to Scotland’s future growth.
“Today marks
the start of Scottish Apprenticeship Week 2014. The First Minister announced
yesterday that our annual target of at least 25,000 new MAs each year has been
met and we are now looking towards having 30,000 new opportunities by
2020.
“I am
confident that this week will see a number of employers exploring the value
that MAs could bring to their company and that we will raise awareness among
young people that an MA is a well-recognised qualification that will equip them
with the skills they need to succeed in the workplace.”
Valerie
Hughes-D'Aeth, Amey Group HR and Communications Director added:
"In order to
grow our highly skilled workforce it is important that we continue to identify
and bring new talent into the industry. Offering apprenticeships is a great way
to do this, as it helps to build transferable skills which are essential for
career progression. As a business we are committed to developing our employees
and their skills, which helps in delivering a high quality service for our
clients."
Scottish
Apprenticeship Week 2014, organised by Skills Development Scotland, sees more
than 120 events celebrating apprenticeships taking place from Shetland to the
Borders.
Skills Development
Scotland Chief Executive, Damien Yeates, also said: “Scottish
Apprenticeship Week highlights the commitment of businesses, such as Amey, that
invest in the skills of their workforce.
“The week
also shows the successes of apprentices who have chosen to develop their
careers by learning while working, to gain nationally recognised
qualifications.
“Modern
Apprenticeships are good for business, good for individuals and good for the
Scottish economy. It’s never been more important to invest in skills for
the future through work-based learning.”
Notes To
Editors
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 Apprenticeship visit: www.myworldofwork.co.uk
For further
information, interviews and images please contact David Moroney at SDS
Communications on 0141 285 6004 david.moroney@sds.co.uk
Notes to
Editors:
- Skills
Development Scotland is highlighting the advantages of hiring a Modern
Apprentice to employers by leading Scottish Apprenticeship Week during May
19-23, bringing together thought-leaders, skills specialists, business leaders,
learners and trade unions. Further details click here
- More than
11,000 employers in Scotland are already taking advantage of the Modern
Apprenticeship programme
- Employers
have their training costs partly met by SDS and are able to have a training
provider on hand to assist if required
- There are
more than 80 different occupational frameworks available – from wind
turbine technician to business administration
- All
Modern Apprentices in Scotland must be employed to be eligible for a
publicly-funded contribution to their training costs
- This
year’s Modern Apprenticeship Awards will be launched during Scottish
Apprenticeship Week. The Awards aim to showcase those who have demonstrated
initiative, enterprise and outstanding commitment to the improvement of skills
development for the Scottish economy
- Get
involved on social media: #ScotMAWeek14