SME manufacturers in Scotland are to be given a £2,000 cash incentive to take on a new apprentice in a bid by the Scottish government to invigorate vocational skills provision.
The ‘Invest in an Apprentice’ scheme is also open to small and medium textiles, food and drink and energy firms. It will be funded by the Scottish Government and the European Social Fund.
Announcing the scheme, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, Fiona Hyslop said: “This Government is committed to doing everything that we can to help people in this current economic climate and ScotAction is the Scottish Government’s skills support package for providing real financial support to businesses and individuals through the recession.
“Our whole economy has faced massive challenges over recent months. However, in order to ensure that our economy continues to be competitive in a global market over the next few years we need to invest now in people who can develop the skills that we will need in the future.”
The venture is part of ScotAction – a set of initiatives to help place both businesses and individuals better for economic recovery. ScotAction is developed and administered by Skills Development Scotland which is the country’s national skills agency.
A similar initiative already in place sees firm’s pocket £2,000 if they take on an existing apprentice that has been made redundant elsewhere.
