The Scottish Government has supported 7686 Modern Apprenticeships in Falkirk district in the last 10 years, figures released at the start of Scottish Apprenticeship Week (March 6 to 10) show.

Falkirk West MSP Michael Matheson has welcomed news that the number of Modern Apprenticeship starts in Falkirk district last year was 85% higher than in 2007, when the SNP took office.
Back then, about 15,000 Modern Apprenticeships were delivered across Scotland each year – a figure the SNP has committed to double by 2020, targeting the additional places on higher-level courses, including graduate-level apprenticeships.

Mr Matheson said: “I am delighted that as we celebrate this year’s Scottish Apprenticeship Week, the latest statistics show that the SNP Government has supported more than 200,000 apprentices in 10 years.

“In Falkirk district, we’ve seen huge growth in the number of apprenticeships, increasing from 497 starts in 2007 to 918 last year.

“The SNP’s extra investment and focus over the last decade has transformed apprenticeships – building bridges with industry, filling skills gaps and enhancing productivity, while giving our young people the skills they need to be at the forefront of our economy and our jobs market.

“We delivered on our manifesto target of reaching 25,000 Modern Apprenticeships each year back in 2011-12 and we have now raised that target to 30,000 per year by 2020.

“This Scottish Apprenticeship Week, I would encourage all businesses to think about how they could benefit from taking on an apprentice.”