Scotland's Economy

Modern Apprentices

January 31, 2013 by John Swinney MSP No Comments | Category Uncategorized

We want Scotland to be recognised as the best country in the world in which to do business. Our workforce – our people – is perhaps our greatest asset and especially our young people.

The Modern Apprenticeship scheme is good news for business and for young people. It has helped many thousands of people into training and equipped them with the skills they need to find employment and flourish in their chosen careers.

We’ve committed to at least 25,000 modern apprentices in every year of the current parliament and we’ve guaranteed a place in training or education for every 16-19-year-old, through Opportunities for All.

The programme – delivered by Skills Development Scotland – is a huge success and it’s no exaggeration to say it transforms the lives of the apprentices who are trained to the highest of standards.

But none of this is done by government in isolation.

Scottish business is absolutely pivotal to the success of Modern Apprenticeships and, increasingly, I can see apprenticeships becoming pivotal to the growing success of Scottish business.

Industry – businesses of all shapes and sizes – is doing its bit to help boost Scotland’s economic success in future and today I was very pleased to be able to announce that an international household name is doubling its apprentice intake in Scotland.

Between now and 2016, Microsoft and their partner network have made a commitment to recruit 2016 IT Professional Apprentices. That’s more than 2000 young people who will be trained to work in a vibrant and growing industry, offering them huge personal opportunities.

This afternoon I met Microsoft’s UK Managing Director, Michel Van der Bel, and two of their apprentices – Jamie Hill and Andrew Fortune. Jamie and Andrew, who have actually both now passed, were terrific examples of successful, poised young people progressing well in their careers.

Michel was enthusiastic about the contribution Microsoft and their partners can make to Scotland and the contribution Scotland can make to the growth of their company. Today’s 2016 by 2016 announcement represents a huge vote of confidence by Microsoft in Scotland’s young people and Scotland’s economy and I hope that more firms in the country, big or small, can consider making young people their business.

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