Northern and Leith MSP Ben Macpherson is encouraging more local companies to consider taking on apprentices to help their business grow. The local MSP made his appeal on the eve of National Apprentice Week, which runs from 6 – 10 March.
The SNP has supported 12,674 Modern Apprenticeships (MA) in Edinburgh in ten years of Government – with 37,000 young people currently going through an apprenticeship in Scotland.
Many areas in Scotland have experienced an increase in MA uptake of over 80% in the last 10 years – with 70.9% more MA starts in Edinburgh compared to 2007.
The SNP manifesto has committed to delivering 30,000 apprenticeships each year by 2020, doubling the number from when they took office, targeting the additional places on higher level courses, including graduate-level apprenticeships.
Ben Macpherson, Edinburgh Northern and Leith MSP said: “I am delighted that as we celebrate this year’s Scottish Apprenticeship Week, the latest statistics show that the SNP Government has supported over 200,000 apprentices in 10 years.
“In Edinburgh, we’ve seen huge growth in the number of apprenticeships since 2007 – an increase of 70.9% since 2007.
“The SNP’s extra investment and focus over the last decade has transformed apprenticeships – building bridges with industry, filling skills gaps and enhancing productivity, while giving our young people the skills they need to be at the forefront of our economy and our jobs market.
“We delivered on our manifesto target of reaching 25,000 Modern Apprenticeships each year back in 2011-12 and we have now raised that target to 30,000 per year by 2020.
“This Modern Apprenticeship Week I would encourage companies to think about if their business could benefit from taking on an apprentice – speak to businesses and organisations that are already benefitting from employing their own apprentices, and find out first-hand how apprentices can benefit your company and our collective economic prosperity.”
SNP Cllr Gavin Barrie and convener of City of Edinburgh Council’s Economic Committee said:“Whether your business is large or small, low tech, hi-tech or services, investing in an apprentice programme is an investment in your business.
“The Council’s employability team are there to guide and assist any business that feels that they want to invest in the future of both their business and those seeking to come in to their line of work.
“With the assistance of the SNP Government and the Council, businesses can secure their workforce for now and the future by engaging with the modern apprentice programme.”
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