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The Scottish Government, through Skills Development Scotland, will fund a new project to train 200 Registered Digital Installers (RDIs) to assist with the digital switchover which must be completed by 2012.

This will support the upskilling of the current workforce of aerial installers to enable them to take advantage of the digital switchover which is taking place across the UK.

Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning. Fiona Hyslop said:

"This Government is committed to doing everything that we can to help people in this current economic climate through our Economic Recovery Plan and ScotAction is the Scottish Government's skills support package for providing real financial support to businesses and individuals through the recession.

"Our whole economy has faced massive challenges over recent months. But the future success of the engineering industry, among others, will be absolutely vital to our economic recovery.

"We know that the whole of the UK will see a switchover to digital television by 2012 and that this is a sector that will grow over the next few years. Currently in Scotland there are not enough engineers who have the qualification required to help the public successfully switch to digital. That is why I am announcing this scheme today.

"I want to ensure that when the time comes, Scotland has enough trained engineers to take advantage of the contracts that will be available through the digital switchover. I am also keen to ensure that those entering this sector also develop the necessary skills to succeed.

"People are our most valuable resource and I am determined to ensure that everyone in our society has the opportunity to make the most of their educational ability.

"This Government will do all that it can to help us recover from the current downturn and ensure that everyone has the opportunity to continue to contribute to Scotland's future economic success."

Damien Yeates, chief executive of Skills Development Scotland, said:

"We are committed to the continued up-skilling of Scotland's workforce, and look forward to supporting the training of Registered Digital Installers.

"SDS is committed to supporting tailored training which meets the needs of employers. This project is a great way for employers and employees alike to support the digital switchover with funding through the Scottish Government's ScotAction scheme. The 200 employees will play a vital role in ensuring that the digital switchover takes place efficiently and effectively in Scotland."

Through ScotAction, the Scottish Government has announced much support for employers and individuals over the last few months.

Skills Development Scotland, Scotland's national skills agency, will play a leading role in taking forward the delivery of the initiatives that ScotAction will deliver for Scotland at this time.

Total funding of £400,000 (£200,000 this year and £200,000 next year) is being made available to train 200 digital installers from December 1, 2009.

The Border TV region was the first to begin the digital switchover process in November last year and will complete soon. STV North and STV Central will switchover next year and it is vital that there are qualified aerial installers available both to help the public successfully switch to digital, but also to service and maintain digital installations in future. Registered Digital Installers (RDIs) are essential to protect consumers and to the success of the whole Digital Switchover programme, a UK-wide commitment made by central Government and the devolved administrations.

The training to be undertaken is a Level 2 NVQ in Electrical and Electronic Servicing (Signal Reception Pathway)

For more information please call Skills Development Scotland on 0808 100 1855.