WIREDGOV

Scottish businesses of all sizes and in all sectors are to be given the opportunity to receive £1,000 to take on a new Apprentice.

The latest strand of the 'Invest in an Apprentice' scheme and a national marketing campaign was announced ahead of today's Jobs Summit - Keep Scotland Working in Glasgow.

Education and Lifelong Learning Secretary Michael Russell said:

"This Government is doing everything it can to help the Scottish economy through the recession and through ScotAction we are continuing to provide real financial support to businesses and individuals.

"Today I want to offer all businesses across Scotland £1000 to take on a new apprentice. This will benefit our hard working companies and employers who continue to fight the effects of the recession. It will also provide increased skills training opportunities to thousands of individuals across Scotland.

"No sector has been immune from the recession and people of all ages are being affected. That is why today's incentive is being broadened out to cover all sectors and apprentices of all ages.

"Apprentices are vital for Scotland's recovery. The action we are taking shows that we are doing everything we can to make sure that businesses continue to invest in training for the people who will be our workforce of the future.

"Our whole economy has faced massive challenges over recent months. However, in order to ensure that our economy continues to be competitive in a global market over the next few years, we need to invest now in people who can develop the skills we will need in the future."

Damien Yeates, chief executive of national skills body Skills Development Scotland, added:

"Modern Apprenticeships deliver key vocational skills needed by the Scottish economy. For many years businesses have benefited from motivated and capable trainees and it's very encouraging that yet more people and organisations will be able to make use of the scheme through the new Modern Apprenticeships Grant, launched today.

"Investments such as this will allow us to assist Scottish businesses to increase their skills base in a time when they need to be at their most productive, as well as boosting employment opportunities for people across a wide range of sectors."

The £4 million scheme announced today is time limited and will run from January 11 to March 26, reflecting views from employers and companies who say they need help now. The incentive is available for up to 4000 employers.

The scheme is part of ScotAction, 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.

Related Information