Less Emphasis on Apprenticeships

In modern times apprenticeship has become less important as employment in heavy industry has declined and less and less young people are taking part in vocational training such as plumbing. This puts pressure on the government to encourage people to take on vocational professions that are vital to the overall running of society. There will always be a need for a plumber or an electrician as it is a skill that not many people possess or are not willing to ‘have a go at’ without the appropriate training. In the late 80’s National Vocational Qualifications were introduced in an attempt to revitalise vocational training. Also in the 90’s the government again attempted to encourage young people into trade professions by introducing Modern Apprenticeships that included knowledge-based elements and key skills.

Since the recession has badly affected all major professions, in some cases especially the vocation-based trade the government are now turning to incentives to encourage employers to take on apprentices. Education Secretary Mike Russell has confirmed that businesses across Scotland are to be offered £1,000 to take on an apprentice. The Scottish Government have decided to put aside up to £4 million for the scheme which will run for just over 10 weeks. In theory up to 4,000 employers in businesses across all types of sectors will benefit from the scheme, and what better time to learn some new vocational skills.