SNP accused on apprenticeship targets

Labour has accused the SNP of watering down a key target on apprenticeships.

The party’s education spokesman, Iain Gray, wants the government to re-set the target for foundation apprenticeships, claiming that reductions will cut off opportunities for young people.

Lasting two years, the apprenticeships allow senior secondary school pupils to learn at the workplace while still at school.

The government committed to providing 3,000 foundation apprenticeships in the next academic year in January last year.

A year later, it said the target was for 2,600 of the places in 2018.

Questioned on whether the target changed due to budget pressures, Minister for Employability and Training Jamie Hepburn told a Holyrood committee the agreed target was for 2,660 foundation apprenticeships and the government “never agreed any other target”.

Mr Gray said: “By watering down these targets and then denying it, the SNP is cutting off opportunities for young people across Scotland.

“Foundation apprenticeships should be a key aspect of developing young people for further work and training.”