Initiative aims to boost apprenticeships

Employers and potential employees within the Scottish agriculture industry should find it easier to get in touch with each other and learn about the benefits of Modern Apprenticeships, thanks to a new initiative from Sector Skills Council, Lantra.

Supported by NFU Scotland and the Scottish Government, MA Connections provides a free and confidential service to farmers looking for new employees and to people seeking more information about careers in agriculture through a Modern Apprenticeship.

By matching up jobs and job seekers in a single database, Lantra aims to save farmers and trainees time and effort.

Information about the service is available at www.lantra.co.uk/MAConnections and covers all aspects of Modern Apprenticeships, including work-based learning, how training is delivered, and what’s expected of employer and employee.

Modern Apprentices are employees who are paid a wage and learn from the skills and experience of people around them while gaining skills and working towards a nationally recognised Scottish Vocational Qualification.

Employers, employees and training providers work together in partnership and Modern Apprenticeships typically take from one to three years to complete.

NFU Scotland vice-president Andrew McCornick said: “NFU Scotland welcomes this new initiative which will make it easier for young people to get a start in the industry, but likewise will give farmers an avenue to find young people to work with them to keep their businesses moving forward.

“The union was instrumental in starting up the level 2 Modern Apprenticeship and has also pushed for a ‘one-stop-shop’ for apprenticeships, so we are pleased this has come to fruition.”

Andrew McCornick.