Breaking Down Barriers to Apprenticeships “Vital”
Responding to a question from Graeme yesterday in Parliament, the First Minister confirmed that more disabled young people are accessing apprenticeships thanks to targeted action by the SNP Government.
During First Minister’s Questions on Thursday, the First Minister announced that “significant progress” had been made in supporting young disabled people to take up modern apprenticeships.
The most recent Skills Development Scotland statistics, from February this year, show that the disability rate for Modern Apprenticeship starts by the end of quarter 3 was 14.8% – 2% higher than the same quarter last year.
Speaking in Chamber, the First Minister acknowledged that there is “much more work is still to be done” in increasing access for disabled people, but that the Scottish Government “remain very committed to helping address the barriers to young disabled people in taking up an apprenticeship”.
The figures show that significant progress has been made in this area since the study by the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
Apprenticeships are hugely significant when it comes to unlocking talent and potential to the benefit of Scotland’s economy.
GRAEME
They help grow our workforce while increasing opportunities for young people by providing them with quality work-based training.
Following this path should be open to all, so it is as welcome as it is significant that we have more disabled young people now entering apprenticeships.
This achievement should not be downplayed, and it is as a direct result of this SNP Government’s actions to improve the outcomes for all of Scotland’s young people that we’ve made the progress we have.
