BAKERS trade association, Scottish Bakers, which supports and protects the interests of Scotland’s bakers, has welcomed the Scottish Government’s confirmation (here) that employers who take on an apprentice can access increased financial support.
The new Apprenticeship Employer Grant announced by the Scottish Government offers further financial support to employers who take on a Modern or Graduate Apprentice within their business.
Part of the Scottish Government’s Young Person’s Guarantee, the Apprenticeship Employer grant aims to encourage more employers to take on an apprentice or upskill an existing staff member through an apprenticeship.
The funding includes:
* £5,000 for employers taking on or upskilling a 16 to 24 year-old apprentice, and for those aged up to 29 years who are disabled, care leavers or Minority Ethnic; and
* £3,500 for employers taking on or upskilling an apprentice aged 25-plus.
Chief executive of Scottish Bakers, Alasdair Smith, said: “This is additional investment in much-needed skills development and is a welcome measure that will be an important part of efforts to stimulate our economy as we recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Scottish Bakers represents small traders right the way up to international bakery-based food manufacturing businesses, and, every year, National Food & Drink Training (NFDT), our specialist training arm, recruits well-over 400 apprentices onto a range of bespoke apprenticeship programmes with above average completion rates.
“Our role in the food and drink sector in Scotland is vital with bakeries having such a strong presence on our High Streets, employing around 12,000 people and delivering revenue of around £1.3 billion. As such, we welcome the announcement which we hope will indeed help businesses realise their growth ambitions now and into the future by investing in the right skills now and into the future.”
NFDT Training and Quality manager, Scott Anderson, added: ”We deliver apprenticeships in traditional craft bakery, food production and supervisory skills in bakeries and beyond into food and drink manufacturing, whisky, soft drinks, seafood and sea fish, and dairy industries.
“Our team of expert training advisers is ready now to support businesses looking to develop their workforce and I’d urge any employer from the food and drink sector in Scotland looking for more information to contact us right away.”
The application process for the Apprentices hip Employer Grant will open from the beginning of January 2021, but you can arrange for registration of new learners through Scottish Bakers/NFDT now.
MEDIA RELEASE issued by Fourcade Communications. You too can share your stories (aka press or media releases), on this site. Email here for more information.
Check out twitter.com/scotsbulletin for your very own media releases feed…
Check out too twitter.com/allFoodPR.
Stay connected with our various twitter feeds: Charities, Drink, Education, Energy, Fashion, Film, Food, Gardens, Legal, Motors, Music, Outdoors, Property, Science and Sports. And not forgetting Finance, Theatre, Travel, Festivals, Visual Arts, Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Perth and Stirling.
Fourcade Communications contact details…
Contact: Julie Fourcade
Phone: 07850532615
Email: julie@fourcade.co.uk
