Apprenticeships at Scottish Parliament

An Open Day for young people interested in hearing more about the available opportunities will be held in the Parliament on 21 November.

Presiding Officer the Rt HonTricia Marwick MSP said: “The Scottish Parliament is an employer in its own right and we hope to lead by example.  This apprenticeship scheme will provide opportunities for young people to build the skills to help them in their future careers.  We will offer a range of positions to help build skills and to develop confidence.

“From today, through a dedicated website, young people aged between 16-24 can access details of these opportunities and next month we will be hosting an Open Day at which I hope to welcome young people from across Scotland.”

Clerk and Chief Executive of the Scottish Parliament Paul Grice said: “The Scottish Parliament is a vibrant and modern workplace and we want a workforce that reflects the diversity of Scotland’s population.  We know the talent is out there – and we want to see it in the Parliament.

“This scheme provides a great opportunity for young people from all backgrounds to use their different abilities and to develop new skills to help build a successful career.  We are always looking for people with initiative to inject different ideas and fresh thinking and, in return, we offer a great organisation where young people can begin their career.

“Young people have much to offer the Parliament and we have much to offer them – a supportive work environment and the first steps on a career path.”

The Parliament piloted a Modern Apprenticeship programme in 2012 and one of the successful applicants, Lynsey Mackay, backed the scheme.  She said: “I wasn’t sure what to expect when I applied to the Parliament.  But I quickly realised there were lots of different roles here and I was encouraged to experience them.

“Nearly two years on, I now have a vocational qualification and can compete for full-time posts within the Parliament – all thanks to the apprenticeship programme.”

Another apprentice, Tess Schmigylski, said: “Some people might assume that the Parliament is a very dry, boring place to work.  Well I can safely say that I’ve enjoyed every minute of my time here – my colleagues have been very supportive and there is always so much going on.

“I feel far more confident now about my life and my career than when I first started and I would encourage any young person who is unsure what they want to do with their life, to find out more about the Parliament’s apprenticeship programme.”