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Press Release

Scottish Apprenticeship Week will highlight value of vocational education

5 September 2011

The first ever Scottish Apprenticeship Week will take place from 5-9 September 2011, aiming to encourage more businesses to take on apprentices and highlight the positive impact they can have on a company. While training the workforce inevitably costs money, the initial investment is more than repaid over the long-term, as highly trained staff work more efficiently and are typically more committed to their employer.

Over 11,000 companies in Scotland across a range of sectors have already taken advantage of Skills Development Scotland's (SDS) Apprenticeship Scheme, and further support is available for training, even against the backdrop of continuing economic uncertainty. The Government has committed £25 million to supporting 10,000 advanced and higher-level apprenticeships in key areas of the economy, part of a wider commitment to vocational learning.

This will help companies adapt to what is a rapidly changing commercial climate, in which skills and technical knowledge are increasingly important. "We know that Apprenticeships and Vocational Learning are cost-effective ways to impact profitability, so we're very pleased that the Government is supporting training and increasing funding for apprenticeships," said Terry Watts, CEO of Proskills, the Sector Skills Council for the process and manufacturing sector.

By highlighting the importance of training and making the process and manufacturing sector's case for funding to develop the skills of the workforce, Proskills is helping companies prepare for a future in which skills and technical knowledge will be crucial to commercial success. Companies that invest in the skills of their staff will be best-placed to capitalise on economic recovery by providing goods and services that meet demand.

Sustaining this commitment to training will bring long-term commercial benefits, according to Terry Watts. "Support from Government will mean that investment in skills within our workforces will continue to grow, ensuring that in the future our industries are able to compete at a global level," he continued. "Apprentices are literally the future of the sector; we need more companies to offer more places to young people on apprenticeships, in the current climate there are some good candidates out there to attract into a career in manufacturing."



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