Modern Apprenticeships are a successfully proven route towards gaining qualifications and workplace experience. The Modern Apprenticeship programme offers paid employment combined with the opportunity to train for jobs at craft, technician and management levels.
Every year, new Modern Apprenticeships are being offered through frameworks developed by Sector Skills Councils and approved by the Modern Apprenticeship Group (MAG)
In response to demand from employers, The Scottish Government has introduced Modern Apprenticeships at SVQ level 2 to replace Skillseekers (see below) This has allowed more people to step into Modern Apprenticeships and benefit from the skills and training they involve.
For more information on the Scottish Government's skills support package for economic growth and also funding for Modern Apprenticeship initiatives see ScotAction.
£1000 Modern Apprenticeship Grant
The Scottish Government, through Skills Development Scotland, introduced the £1000 Modern Apprenticeship Grant to encourage businesses of all sizes to take on an apprentice.
The aim of the scheme was to benefit companies across Scotland in the last quarter of financial year 2009/10 in the midst of the challenging economic climate, as well as to provide increased skills and training opportunities to individuals across Scotland. Please note that this scheme is now closed.
We have passed details of this scheme to the European Union Commission for registration.
For more information please see the press release .
Skillseekers is currently being phased out and replaced by SVQ Level 2 Modern Apprenticeships, but is still available for some sectors.
Skillseekers is a training programme run by Skills Development Scotland (SDS) for young people who want to develop skills and equip themselves for the world of work. Most young people involved in Skillseekers are in employment, however there are also training places for those having difficulty finding a job.
Visit the SDS website here for more information on Skillseekers.
Job specific training to help unemployed adults improve their chances of getting into work. Includes opportunities to work towards an SVQ or other job related qualification, often combined with actual work experience.
A range of programmes have been created by the UK government to help any jobless person of working age to gain skills and experience and find work.