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More than 100 individuals in Scotland are to be offered a place in a new Home Energy Apprenticeship Programme.

The Scottish Government will support Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) in a Home Energy Apprenticeship Pilot Programme which will build a framework of energy professionals to support the company's long term ability to contribute to energy efficiency goals.

Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning Fiona Hyslop made the announcement at Scotland's first ever Apprenticeship Summit, at the Signet Library in Edinburgh, which brought together employers and stakeholders from all across Scotland.

Speaking at the event, Fiona Hyslop said:

"The Scottish Government is undertaking a range of work, through its six point economic recovery programme, to help individuals and organisations during the current downturn. We have already committed an additional £16 million to increase apprenticeship recruitment in Scotland.

"The First Minister had an initial discussion with Scottish and Southern Energy in January this year about the potential for a Modern Apprenticeship for Home Energy and now only three months later I am delighted to announce Scottish Government support for this Programme to initially be offered to 100 individuals in the first pilot year starting this August.

"Our economic strategy commits to creating the right environment for competitiveness and growth of the energy sector in Scotland and this apprenticeship programme will provide Scottish and Southern Energy with highly skilled people in all aspects of energy efficiency and energy use in the home.

"In these difficult times for families and businesses, this programme allows Scottish and Southern Energy to expand its work in helping customers to cut bills and ultimately reduce emissions.

"I am confident that, as a result of today's successful Apprenticeship Summit, the Scottish Government will continue to work with employers to ensure that we can continue to develop the skills and jobs needed during the economic downturn and support employment opportunities in the recovery period."

Colin Hood, Chief Operating Officer, Scottish and Southern Energy added:

"To make progress in transforming Scotland to a low carbon economy, we must invest in the skills of the future and I am delighted to be working in partnership with the Scottish Government to fast track a home energy apprenticeship and training programme.

"SSE intends to continue its investment programme despite the current economic downturn, and as well as taking on new people in the coming year as part of piloting this programme, we look forward to upskilling our existing workforce. Energy efficiency has always been sensible; now it is imperative and all energy businesses need to treat it as core business and invest in the skills to deliver it."

The Cabinet Secretary met two energy apprentices who will benefit from the new scheme at the Summit. Gillian Groundwater (21) from East Kilbride and David Stewart (20) from Perth. The Cabinet Secretary will also visit a home in Duddingston later in the day to observe a home energy survey and advice being given to a SSE customer. This will be one type of work to be undertaken by the new Home Energy Modern Apprentices.

The Summit focused on the Modern Apprenticeship programme in Scotland and how it can deliver in the current economic climate.

Key themes discussed were engagement with employers, the threat of redundancy and how Government can best support employers to develop the skills and jobs needed during the economic downturn and support employment opportunities in the recovery period.

The Scottish Government has already announced that Glasgow City Council will be offered additional funding of around £6m over three years to help create up to 1000 new Modern Apprenticeship places and we have announced a further 50 Modern Apprenticeships for the creative sector.

Home Energy Apprenticeship Pilot Programme - This initiative sees the development of an all age apprenticeship for Energy Advisers that will develop the skills of individuals that will allow them to confidently engage with the people of Scotland about the important issue of reducing emissions. Some of the skills will include being able to: Identify energy efficiency requirements of customers, resolve energy efficiency problems and provide energy efficiency advice.

SSE also intends to deliver a programme of upskilling existing staff to increase its capacity to assist customers with energy efficiency advice and solutions. SSE intends to pilot the upskilling programme later this year in parallel with the Modern Apprenticeship Programme. SSE currently employs thousands of people in customer service and over 19,000 people across the UK.

The Scottish Government has already shown its commitment to energy efficiency through the inclusion of a mandatory provision in the Scottish Climate Change Bill to publish and report on an Energy Efficiency Action Plan. We recently published an outline of this plan and intent to consult on this later in the year. Ensuring we have the right skills base in Scotland to support the increase in energy efficiency will be an important feature of this plan.

This announcement will also allow us to build on the capacity of our Energy Saving Scotland Advice Network announced last year which already offers free independent advice and support to consumers on how to improve their energy efficiency.

The Scottish Government has made clear that it will be guaranteeing continued training for apprentices who lose their job due to the current downturn. We will be working with all the relevant organisations to ensure that everything possible is done to find alternative employment to enable them to complete their MA. Where that is not possible, we will ensure they are able to complete alternative, relevant training.

Related Information

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Economy/help