SCOTTISH Government business minister Jamie Hepburn has joined the Scottish Electrical Charitable Training Trust (SECTT) and the Scottish Joint Industry Board (SJIB) in paying tribute to Scotland’s employers for continuing to support young talent throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.
The industry bodies have applauded businesses for ‘recruiting, training and nurturing’ trainees despite the challenging times, adding that their dedication is the ‘perfect example’ of business backing talent, which is the theme of Scottish Apprenticeship Week, which runs from March 1-5.
Anne Galbraith, chief executive of SECTT, which manages training on behalf of the SJIB, said, “As the industry prepares to celebrate Scottish Apprenticeship Week, employers have once again demonstrated their ongoing commitment to apprentices, stepping up when it really matters and helping to power the industry of tomorrow by investing in the talent of the future. In the past 12 months, the sustained support for training shown by employers of all sizes across Scotland has been a great example of ‘business backing talent’. Apprenticeships are more valuable than ever – the future is electric, and we need the talent to ensure we have qualified professionals to make it thrive safely and responsibly.”
Fiona Harper, secretary of the SJIB, added, “At a time when we are focused more than ever on health and safety, apprenticeships ensure the talent of tomorrow is being trained the right way, both on and off-site, following the correct guidance and giving employers and customers confidence that work undertaken is of the highest standard. Their resilience shows that, even without additional support at this difficult time, employers have still been there, continuing to nurture the talent of tomorrow.”
Jamie Hepburn MSP commented, “It has been highly encouraging to witness the determination of employers throughout Scotland’s electrical industry to keep investing in the future by training and supporting tomorrow’s highly-skilled electricians. Apprenticeships are a core part of our skills system in Scotland, enabling employers to invest in their workforce and provide the skills that we need both now and in the future.”
