23.06.2009
More than 400 adult apprentice places are to be offered at food and drink companies in Scotland after the Scottish government removed its age restrictions on funding for Modern Apprenticeships (MAs).
Following consultation with Improve, the food and drink sector skills council, Skills Development Scotland (SDS) has agreed to make £750,000 available in the current financial year to fund training costs for apprentices aged 20 and over taking MA pathways in bakery and meat and poultry processing.
Earlier this year, Improve won approval for Scotland’s first Level 2 Modern Apprenticeship, prompting a huge anticipated rise in food and drink apprentices. Improve chief executive Jack Matthews says the Scottish Government’s agreement to also fund adult apprentice places offers the industry a huge opportunity to meet its growth targets.
“Last year, there were just 15 MA starts in food and drink manufacturing companies in Scotland,” said Mr Matthews. “This year’s funding settlement covers 656 starters, of which 417 will be adult apprentice places.
“We have pushed hard to secure public funding for adult apprenticeships across the UK and now Scotland is leading the way. This is vitally important for the food and drink industry because of the workforce age demographic – less than 3 per cent of all workers in the industry are aged under 20, so only having funding available for that age group disqualifies the bulk of people entering the industry straight away.
“We have also been keen to challenge the traditional view that apprenticeships are for new comers to an industry only. If you have a programme that delivers flexible, relevant, work-based training that is proven to deliver results, why not make it available to staff who have been in the industry for two, five or even ten years? Better skilled staff boost efficiency and productivity, so increasing apprentice numbers will help raise turnover and add value to businesses.”
Mr Matthews urged employers in Scotland to make use of the funding available and to get in touch with Improve to discuss putting staff through a Modern Apprenticeship. “The funding covers all training and assessment costs for apprentices aged 16-19 taking one of the 15 Modern Apprenticeship in Food and Drink Manufacturing learning pathways at Levels 2 and 3. It is also available for candidates aged 20 and over taking pathways in areas such as bakery and meat and poultry processing, including butchery. We have started with the bakery and meat sectors because they account for a third of all people employed in the industry in Scotland and they are sectors where we have identified most demand for apprentices. However, as and when we get increasing levels of demand from employers in other parts of the industry, we will look to extend access to the full range of Modern Apprenticeships to them as well.”
