CBI Scotland director, Iain McMillan, today welcomed an announcement that the Scottish Government is to employers up to £2,000 when they take on any apprentice.
Says a spokesperson: “The Employer Recruitment Incentive (ERI) is delivered by Skills Development Scotland – Scotland’s skills body – and supported by the Scottish Government.
“Eligibility for ERI has been broadened, it provides businesses with a cash injection when they take on a 16-19 year-old as an apprentice or offer a Modern Apprenticeship to anyone 20 years or over who has been out of work for a short period.”
Iain McMillan said: “This funding will encourage employers to take on trainees during a time when recruitment costs may be a challenging additional burden and it will help more of our young people to enter employment and training.
“CBI Scotland welcomes the broadening of the ERI eligibility to allow more businesses to benefit. We would encourage employers to get involved and take on an apprentice.”
Employers can find out more by calling SDS’s helpline on 0800 783 6000 or visiting www.sds.co.uk/eri
Damien Yeates, chief executive of Skills Development Scotland, said: “Modern Apprenticeships enable employers to build a loyal and high performing workforce, and young people to earn while they gain the skills they need to develop a sustainable career.
“It’s a tough time for employers everywhere but this announcement will allow them to recruit any 16-19 year-old coming out of Scottish schools and colleges and to offset the cost of their wages during the early stages of their Modern Apprenticeship employment.”
He added: “Scotland’s young people make a valuable contribution to businesses and to the wider economy.
“Most just need to be given the chance and we hope that by extending the ERI we will encourage more employers to offer our young people that opportunity.”
Minister for Youth Employment, Angela Constance, said: “I want to see as many of our young people as possible develop the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to be a success in our job market and contribute towards our economy.
“This offer will help convince more companies to give a young person the chance to make their first steps onto the career ladder in 2012. It will also ensure many young people can look forward to a brighter future this year.”
Ends
Notes to editors
CASE STUDY
Twenty-two year-old Jamie Gray is the perfect example of what is possible when a young person gets the chance to shine in a Modern Apprenticeship.
Former catering assistant, Jamie, never thought he stood a chance of being selected by Spirit AeroSystems for an engineering apprenticeship four years ago, but his dream came true and he is now a qualified quality engineer with the Prestwick firm.
He says: “I was a quiet boy from a small village, but was pushed to go for my dream job and have never looked back. I would encourage anyone to go for what they want, especially if it’s an apprenticeship – go for it and give it 110 per cent.”
Jamie’s manager at Spirit, John Kelly, is equally impressed with the Modern Apprenticeship programme.
He comments: “Jamie is a young man who displays maturity beyond his years. He has a well-judged confidence and consistently performs to a high level.
“During his apprenticeship, Jamie fully committed himself to the programme and as a result has developed into a very capable, ambitious and popular engineer.”
Jamie thoroughly enjoyed completing his apprenticeship, but his plans for learning and developing don’t stop there. He will soon start studying for a Higher National Diploma in Quality Management in the hope, he says, that his initiative and willingness to learn will mark him out for promotion.
Modern Apprenticeships offer individuals full-time employment as well as work-based learning with the obvious benefit to employers of having a skilled member of staff.
Skills Development Scotland supports the delivery of Modern Apprenticeships, making a significant financial contribution to this type of training.
The Employer Recruitment Incentive criteria
This broadening of the Employer Recruitment Incentive eligibility builds on the previous offer.
Small companies with up to 49 employees recruiting a MA or an employee matching any of the criteria will attract £2,000 towards small business employment support.
This is designed to assist small companies with the particular challenges they face in meeting the miscellaneous costs of recruiting additional staff.
Companies with 50 employees or more will receive £1,000.
From 21 December 2011 onwards the ERI is available to employers recruiting a Modern Apprentice, who matches at least one of the following criteria:
Any 16-19 year-old who is recruited as a Modern Apprentice or has progressed to a MA from 21 December 2011.
Individuals 20 years of age plus and three months unemployed starting a MA from 21 December 2011 onwards.
MEDIA RELEASE posted by Skills Development Scotland. You too can post media releases (aka press releases) on allmediascotland.com. For more information, email here.
Contact: Frances Ridge
Phone: 0141 285 6131
Email: frances.ridge@sds.co.uk
Website: http://www.sds.co.uk/eri
