Scottish Conservatives to set out new apprenticeships plan
The Conservatives say more people need to be leaving college with the specific skills employers need.
The Scottish Conservatives say they would introduce a new “demand-led” apprenticeship system to tackle Scotland’s skills gap.
Party leader Russell Findlay and education spokesman Miles Briggs MSP are visiting Edinburgh College on Monday morning to outline their plans to increase the number of apprenticeships.
During their visit, the pair are expected to try their hands at bricklaying.
They say their plans would mean more young people leave college with the specific skills that employers need, and would reverse the £170 million the SNP has failed to pass on to apprenticeship funding. The Conservatives estimate this has resulted in 10,000 fewer places to learn.
Mr Briggs said: “The SNP’s savage cuts to college funding have robbed young people of opportunities and created a skills shortage that is holding back growth.
“That’s the very definition of a false economy.
“The Scottish Conservatives’ plan is to deliver more apprenticeship places - and, crucially, in those sectors where the skills shortage is most acute for businesses.
“This demand-led approach will provide young people and Scottish firms with the skills that are crucial in a host of sectors, putting right years of SNP neglect.
“The financial mismanagement of John Swinney’s government has resulted in a failure to invest in the training and skills essential for future prosperity.
“Unless the skills gap is addressed and growth becomes the government’s central priority, essential services will be unaffordable.
“We are proposing bold and practical measures to invest in colleges, fix Scotland’s broken apprenticeship system, address skills shortages and allow local employers to shape training that matches their workforce needs.”
Hospitality, construction, engineering and care are the most affected by skills shortages.
The most recent polling suggests the Scottish Conservatives will finish fourth behind the SNP, Reform UK and Scottish Labour at next year’s Holyrood election.
A spokesman for the Scottish Government said: “The Scottish Government is delivering a transformational programme to reform the post-school education and skills system and taking targeted action to meet urgent skills needs in sectors like offshore wind, social care, engineering and advanced manufacturing.
“The latest data from the Scottish Funding Council shows there are currently more than 14,000 full-time equivalent college students on engineering courses.
“This year we are providing £185 million to deliver 25,500 new modern apprentices, 5,000 foundation apprentices and 1,200 graduate apprentices. We will also continue to provide support for 38,500 apprentices already in training.”
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