LABOUR DELIVER FOR APPRENTICES

Local MSP Cathy Jamieson has welcomed the Scottish Government’s announcement that will finally deliver the budget guarantee on apprenticeships.

Figures recently showed that across Scotland nearly 1000 trainees have been made redundant, predominately in the construction industry, with around 60 of these coming from the South and East Ayrshire council areas.

During the Scottish Budget negotiations Labour secured a commitment to an Apprenticeship Summit, an extra 7,800 new apprenticeship starts, and a guarantee that all apprentices who were made redundant would be able to complete their training. 

Cathy Jamieson MSP said:

“Labour has pushed the Scottish Government hard to deliver for apprentices. There are young people across Ayrshire who have been made redundant, and Labour have been determined to ensure that they are not forgotten.

"I therefore welcome the fact that the Scottish Government are at last living up to their commitment, and I hope that it will ensure that these trainees get back into work fast.

"However the Scottish Government also gave a commitment to provide additional apprenticeship places.  They now need to come up with imaginative ways to ensure the 7,800 apprentice places promised are spread evenly across all sectors of the economy, from large companies through to small businesses and social enterprises." 

14/06/2009