Plans to improve skills of young

Scottish Labour is launching a bid to expand training opportunities for young people by delivering almost 30,000 modern apprenticeship places.
The plans will be unveiled by Scottish Labour leader Wendy Alexander and skills spokesman John Park in a bill to be put before the Scottish Parliament.

The bill proposes to establish a right to undertake an apprenticeship for those aged between 16 and 18.

Ms Alexander said building Scotland’s skill base was "vital" for the economy.

"There will be fewer low skilled jobs in the future and therefore less opportunity for unskilled young people to enter the job market straight from school." Wendy Alexander, Scottish Labour leader.

The bill’s consultation is being launched at the Carnegie College’s school of engineering and technology in Fife, which was formerly the Rosyth Dockyard apprentice training centre.

The centre is training the next generation of skilled workers who will assemble the new Royal Navy aircraft carriers as well as apprentices for companies across Scotland.

Speaking ahead of the launch Ms Alexander said: "The building of the skills base of the Scottish workforce has never been more vital to our economic success.

"It needs to be recognised that there will be fewer low skilled jobs in the future and, therefore, less opportunity for unskilled young people to enter the job market straight from school."

"Competitive market"

Mr Park, who was a former apprentice at the dockyard, added: "Apprentice numbers in Scotland have increased significantly over the last 10 years, however, quality vocational training opportunities are increasingly hard to come by and modern apprenticeships have hundreds of applicants for every place.

"Today, in Rosyth it’s not unusual for companies that use the school of engineering and technology to have over 300 applicants for 10 positions."

He added that one Glasgow building company recently had about 2,400 people applying for 75 constructionbased apprentice positions.

"As a former apprentice here in the dockyard I know the difference good quality training can make to the lives of young people," Mr Park added.

"An apprenticeship gives you not just technical skills but core skills that will give you an edge in what will become in the future an increasingly competitive labour market."