New target for Apprentices – Scotland’s National Apprenticeship Week

Cabinet Secretary, Roseanna Cunningham, has announced the target of 26,000 Modern Apprentices for the year 2016/2017.

The new target was outlined in a speech at SCDI Skills summit in Dundee, working towards the ambition of having 30,000 apprentices a year by 2020.

Latest figures show that over the past four years, the Scottish Government has supported more than 101,000 Modern Apprenticeship starts – exceeding targets to deliver 25,000 MA opportunities in each year of the current Parliament. In 2007, there were 15,000 people starting Modern Apprenticeships.

Cabinet Secretary, Roseanna Cunning said: “We are now delivering more than 25,000 MAs each year (25,247 in 2014/15) and this will now increase to 26,000 for the year ahead.

“And in total, since this Government came into office in 2007 more than 190,000 MA starts have been delivered, which is a fantastic achievement – but we are committed to doing even more to achieve our ambition of having 30,000 by 2020.

“It is crucial that we continue to invest, not only in our young people by making sure that they have the right opportunities to learn and develop their skills and gain access to the labour market, but also to support industry and business right across Scotland. Modern Apprentices are key to delivering economic development and a strong economy.”

The announcement comes with the Scottish Apprenticeship Week which runs from 29 February to 4 March, organised by Skills Development Scotland to promote the benefits apprenticeships bring to businesses, individuals and the economy.

Government Ministers are engaging with employers from across the spectrum seeing first-hand the difference that modern apprenticeships make in the world of work.

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