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The Scottish Government is to provide up to £3 million to support the recruitment of 100 new apprentices within the life sciences sector.

First Minister Alex Salmond revealed that life science companies will be able to recruit two apprentices for one - with the full salary costs of the second apprentice being paid by the Scottish Government - while he toured the state-of-the-art laboratories at Dundee College, used by life sciences students.

The funding package follows the Scottish Government's commitment of an additional £16 million to boost apprenticeship recruitment in Scotland by 7,800 this year.

The First Minister said:

"We fully recognise the pressure on individuals, households and companies during the current economic recession. The Scottish Government is supporting businesses and individuals through ScotAction, our skills support package providing financial assistance during the current downturn. Through ScotAction and our Economic Recovery Programme, we will help to ensure Scotland's future economic recovery and growth.

"A key part of this work is enabling innovation and supporting skills development, which is why we are investing so heavily in the generations of the future by raising educational standards and supporting a strong modern apprenticeship programme. Equally, we are investing in the sectors of the future, such as life sciences and renewable energy, so we can build on our comparative advantage and harness our full economic potential.

"Dundee has been quick to establish itself as a global address for life science companies. Research and innovation has attracted world leading companies such as Wyeth and Cyclacel. The life sciences sector alone is an important component of the local economy with the wider effects on Scotland's reputation as a leader in life sciences attracting even greater economic benefits."

Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning Fiona Hyslop, who joined the First Minister on his visit to the College, said:

"The life science industry is one of Scotland's key economic sectors and will make an important contribution to our future economic success. We have acted quickly to meet the demands of this sector, valuable for technicians, and the First Minister and I launched the Modern Apprenticeship Framework for Life Sciences in China in April this year. Today we are taking this support a step further by providing funding for life sciences companies to take on two apprenticeships for the cost of one to rapidly build the capacity for the sector for further growth in business and jobs.

"This is the latest in a range of measures the Scottish Government has taken through ScotAction to boost Scotland's apprenticeship programme, as we further our aim of developing new high value sectors in the Scottish economy and delivering for Scotland's key sectors.

"In recent months we have doubled the number of apprenticeships in the hospitality and health and social care sectors, made £6 million available to fund an extra 1,000 apprentices in Glasgow to support the Commonwealth Games legacy, funded 50 apprentices in the creative sector and announced 100 home energy efficiency apprenticeships."

Principal of Dundee College Christina Potter said:

"Dundee College is delighted to support the launch of the MA in Life Sciences. The development of science skills is critical to the financial health of Scotland and, in particular, here in Dundee.

"We work in partnership with the two local universities and the emerging life sciences companies in Dundee to ensure that those leaving college and working in industry have the most relevant skill base. We have been successful in developing a Skills Utilisation bid for life sciences to support our ground breaking work in this area. This project has attracted over £250,000 grant funding from the Scottish Funding Council.

"Dundee College works extensively in the applied science area both with large companies and also with small to medium sized enterprises. We are delivering training and knowledge transfer in life science, health science and the food and drink industry.

"Through the Scottish College Biotechnology consortium we have also been able to provide life science industry staff with an online training course in bio-processing. Dundee College also has started this to deliver SVQs in laboratory and related technical activities to a local company."

The Life Sciences Modern Apprenticeship for Scotland will have a positive impact on Scottish recruitment, retention and up-skilling at technician level within the life sciences sector. The MAs will:

• Attract younger people, from our schools and colleges into the sector
• Benefit those already working in sector to acquire recognition, skills and qualifications
• Provide a route to technician level jobs through work based provision that has previously been non-existent
• Engage a higher number of small and medium sized employers with training

The Scottish Government has announced a range of support for the Apprenticeship Programme over the last few months: £6 million to fund an additional 1,000 apprentices in Glasgow over the next 3 years to support the Commonwealth Games legacy; 50 apprentices in the Creative Sector; funding for 100 apprenticeships for Home Energy and Efficiency in partnership with Scottish and Southern Energy was announced. This month Scottish Government announced that the number of Modern Apprentices in the hospitality and tourism sector will double, while the 'Adopt an Apprentice' scheme, where employers can receive £2000 to employ a redundant apprentice, was introduced.

Scotland has a thriving Life Sciences Sector which consists of just over 500 organisations - of which approximately 10 per cent are academic .These organisations employ approximately 30,500 people across the entire main Life Sciences sector. These organisations contribute over £2.8 billion to the Scottish Economy annually, with a projected GVA growth rate of eight per cent which is four times the average rate for Scotland. It is hoped that this life sciences apprenticeships package will be supported by the European Social Fund.

ScotAction is an integrated package combining new and improved measures to help individuals and businesses through the recession and will provide skills assistance - including wage subsidies in some circumstances - for training for work, training in work and training from work to work to help Scottish people and businesses survive the downturn and thrive when the economy starts to recover.

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