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Scottish businesses benefiting from ScotAction
04/11/2009
Companies across Scotland are benefiting from a raft of support measures to recruit Modern Apprentices which have been introduced over the last six months.
In a further move to help Scottish businesses, the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning announced today that through ScotAction, the Scottish Government will provide up to 50 individuals in the manufacturing and engineering sectors with funding for Business Improvement Techniques (BIT) support.
BIT is a work based competency qualification that improves business performance by helping companies to reduce their waste and costs, improve their productivity and ultimately increase their competitiveness.
This is the latest in a series of announcements made by Ms Hyslop, adding to the vast number of options already made available to businesses through ScotAction, and enhances further a total package which is now by far the most comprehensive in the UK.
Efforts are ongoing to raise awareness of the options available to businesses, and to those seeking work, so that as many businesses and people as possible can benefit over the coming months.
Ms Hyslop said:
"This Government wants to help as many people as possible keep their jobs or quickly get back into work or training and ScotAction is an important element in achieving this.
"Since the beginning of the recession we have been using all the flexibility we have in the system to adapt our approach and tailor schemes to help people and businesses in the sectors that need it most.
"The result is that Scotland now has the most comprehensive package of offers available for MAs in the UK and is investing in developing the skills of people working in sectors that are key to Scotland and will help us build our way back to economic growth.
"Today's announcement underlines our commitment to supporting individuals and companies, as part of our comprehensive Economic Recovery Plan, and will help people to improve their businesses and increase competitiveness at this very crucial time.
"I would encourage anyone who reads about ScotAction and thinks it can help them or their business to contact Skills Development Scotland who will be able to give the information needed to take advantage of what is on offer."
Director of the Alliance of Sector Skills Councils in Scotland, Jacqui Hepburn, said:
"The Alliance in Scotland welcomes the announcement of funding for Business Improvement Techniques (BIT) from the Scottish Government. BIT qualifications are delivered in the workplace and are based on competences recognised by employers. This will enable Scottish employers to access the skills they need to increase productivity and competitiveness, which is essential as Scotland moves towards economic recovery."
Business Improvement Techniques (BIT) is a work-based competency qualification. The main objective of the awards is to improve business performance, with a central theme throughout of improving business activity by continuous improvement. This enables companies and organisations to reduce their waste/costs, improve their productivity and ultimately increase their competitiveness. The qualification is delivered at level 2,3 and 4 and there is therefore a relevant qualification to all those involved in business improvement within an organisation.
There is currently little uptake of the BIT qualification in Scotland however discussion with a number of large manufacturing companies would suggest there is interest in this qualification structure within the market place.
The full list of announcements made through ScotAction to support the Apprenticeship Programme during the last six months include:
- launch in June of the 'Adopt an Apprentice' scheme where employers can receive a helping hand of £2000 to employ a redundant apprentice
- funding 2 for 1 Life Science Apprenticeships to help support this key sector
- creation of an additional 170 early years modern apprenticeships
- launch Safeguard an Apprentice to retain 'at risk' apprentices
- launch Invest in an Apprentice to recruit new apprentices or upskill existing members of staff
- making £6 million available to fund an additional 1,000 apprentices in Glasgow to support the Commonwealth Games legacy
- funding for 50 apprentices in the creative sector
- funding for 100 apprenticeships for Home Energy and Efficiency in partnership with Scottish and Southern Energy.
- funding 500 apprenticeships in Hospitality and Tourism sector
- funding 410 for Food and Drink industry
- funding for 460 Financial and Business services apprenticeships
- funding for 250 Health and Social Care apprenticeships
- funding for 170 places for the Early Years and Childcare
- funding for 2000 apprentices for the Retail Sector
- funding for 600 Management apprentices
These announcements are part of a £16 million package to create an additional 7,800 Modern Apprentices.
Skills Development Scotland, Scotland's national skills agency, will play a leading role in taking forward the delivery of the initiatives that ScotAction will deliver for Scotland at this time.