Apprenticeships funding has ‘vanished’, says Scottish Tory leader

The Scottish Conservatives are calling on more funding for apprenticeships as they say millions of pounds of proposed government funding has “vanished”.

On a visit to Edinburgh College, Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay and shadow education secretary Miles Briggs said Scotland needed a “demand-led” system.

This would mean that enough young people are emerging from colleges with the specific skills employers require to grow their businesses and Scotland’s economy.

Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay has said the SNP government have failed to pass on over £170 million of funding that was intended for apprenticeships which has meant there are around 10,000 fewer places than learning providers have requested.

He said this has created a “skills gap” that is holding back young people and businesses.

Speaking at Edinburgh College, he said: “I’m here to speak to students about the funding crisis that exists in respect to Scottish colleges – in which the SNP government have cut college funding by 20% in this parliamentary term – and also to talk about our plans to properly fund apprenticeships in Scotland.

“Right now there’s about 25,000 people on apprenticeships in Scotland. We believe that number should be much higher; we are aiming for at least 36 or 37,000 people doing apprenticeships, because the money’s there for it.

“The Scottish government receives a huge sum of money to fund apprenticeships through the apprenticeship levy, but we’ve calculated that around £170 million of that money has vanished.

“Its not been used for the purpose that its intended for. We want to put forward bold and ambitious proposals to properly fund apprenticeships to properly fund apprenticeships to increase opportunity for young people.

“It’s wholly realistic on the basis of the money that’s already there.”

Miles Briggs added that the failure to keep pace with other parts of the country when it comes to training places is putting Scottish firms at a disadvantage, with more than half saying there is a skills shortage and one in five saying it has curtailed their activity.

Scottish Conservative MSP Miles Briggs added that “the skills gap” needs to be addressed.

He said: “The SNP’s savage cuts to college funding have robbed young people of opportunities and created a skills shortage that is holding back growth.

“That’s the very definition of a false economy.

“The Scottish Conservatives’ plan is to deliver more apprenticeship places – and, crucially, in those sectors where the skills shortage is most acute for businesses.

“This demand-led approach will provide young people and Scottish firms with the skills that are crucial in a host of sectors, putting right years of SNP neglect.

“The financial mismanagement of John Swinney’s government has resulted in a failure to invest in the training and skills essential for future prosperity. Unless the skills gap is addressed and growth becomes the government’s central priority, essential services will be unaffordable.

“We are proposing bold and practical measures to invest in colleges, fix Scotland’s broken apprenticeship system, address skills shortages and allow local employers to shape training that matches their workforce needs.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The Scottish Government is delivering a transformational programme to reform the post-school education and skills system and taking targeted action to meet urgent skills needs in sectors like offshore wind, social care, engineering and advanced manufacturing.

“The latest data from the Scottish Funding Council shows there are currently more than 14,000 full-time equivalent college students on engineering courses.

“This year we are providing £185 million to deliver 25,500 new modern apprentices, 5,000 foundation apprentices and 1,200 graduate apprentices. We will also continue to provide support for 38,500 apprentices already in training.”