SCOTTISH construction apprentice numbers are at a six-year high, according to new figures published ahead of Scottish Apprenticeship Week.
In 2016, CITB Scotland directly trained 1,925 new Modern Apprentices – a 35% increase from the 1,422 apprentices in 2011.
CITB is now urging employers to consider taking on an apprentice for the first time, or to add to their current workforce, to help continue this upward trend.
Up to £10,250 of CITB grant funding is available to employers for every apprentice they employ. CITB research released last month predicted that over 12,000 new workers will be needed in the Scottish construction sector in the next five years.
Ian Hughes, strategic partnerships director at CITB Scotland, said, “Scottish Apprenticeship Week is the perfect platform to highlight the value of apprenticeships to construction employers and the excellent career opportunities available.
“The industry needs a skilled workforce, with thousands of new people coming into it. Employers of all sizes across the sector have a key role to play in developing the next generation of industry professionals.”
Stephen Sheridan, key sector manager for construction at Skills Development Scotland (SDS) added, “It’s great to see the construction companies, with the support of CITB, continuing to invest in apprenticeships to develop their workforce and to ensure the sector has the right skills for the future.
“There’s no better time than Scottish Apprenticeship Week to find out more about the benefits apprenticeships bring to businesses – large and small – and the head-start they can give young people in their careers that will last them a lifetime.”
