SCOTLAND is on track to achieve its target of 30,000 Modern Apprenticeships starts by 2020, new statistics from Skills Development Scotland have confirmed.

The number of people embarking on a Modern Apprenticeship increased to 26,262 and exceeded the 2016/17 annual target. Skills Development Scotland (SDS) said that in the fourth quarter of the year, 76 per cent (19,847) of those starting a Modern Apprenticeship were aged between 16-24 with the largest proportion of new starts – 23 per cent – in the construction industry.

Jamie Hepburn, the Minister for Employability and Training, welcomed the statistics and pointed to Scotland now being among the countries with the lowest youth unemployment rates in the EU. “We are exceeding our Modern Apprenticeship targets with employers clearly recognising the value of the opportunities they bring to increase skills in our workforce and encourage new talent,” he said.

“As we work towards our 2020 target of expanding the number of Modern Apprenticeship starts to 30,000 each year, we are growing, widening and enhancing the apprenticeship programme to respond to employers’ needs.”

Mr Hepburn added: “In 2017, we are expanding the number of Graduate Level and Foundation Apprenticeships, giving more individuals the chance to take on work-based learning through universities and schools,” he said.

Skills Development Scotland’s chief executive, Damien Yeates, said: “It is great news for young people, employers and Scotland as a whole that we now have a record number of Modern Apprentices. We will continue to work with individuals, employers, training providers and partners to widen access to apprenticeship and the opportunities that work based learning provides.”