YOU SHOULD never be too old to become an apprentice, a leading Scottish business organisation is saying today, writes Grant Smith, education reporter.

The Federation of Small Businesses Scotland wants to see the current age limit on modern apprenticeships scrapped, allowing those over 25 to take part.

In a policy paper released in the run-up to Holyrood elections, it argues that ageing of the workforce and the need for improvements in skills should be reflected in training opportunities.

“If the Scottish Executive is to realise its number one priority of economic growth, then investment in Scotland’s entire workforce must be a priority,” a spokesman said.

“Currently modern apprenticeship funding is targeted at under-25s and a significant number of our members have highlighted this as a barrier to their participation in the scheme. There is clearly employer and employee demand to participate in the programme.”

FSB Scotland policy convener Andy Willox said, “More and more workers in their late twenties and early thirties look to retrain because of the huge opportunities in areas like construction.”

Modern apprenticeships offer those aged over 16 paid employment combined with the opportunity to train for jobs at craft, technician and management level.

People taking part sign up to a training agreement that gives them the chance to develop expertise and knowledge through on-the-job assessment—and in many cases by attending training centres or colleges, leading to a Scottish Vocational Qualification.

The Executive has set a target of 30,000 people on apprenticeships, but the FSB wants even more.

Mr Willox said, “We have 350,000 people out of work in Scotland, yet employers are struggling to recruit, with 66% of all vacancies in the small business sector described as ‘hard to fill’ by employers, so there is obviously still a mis-match between the supply and demand for skills.

“I think we have to ask if the Executive’s target of 30,000 modern apprenticeships is ambitious enough, given that study after study has shown that a shortage of skilled trades and technical qualifications is holding back business.

“Surely it’s time to review whether we have enough training places in these crucial sectors, and whether we need to realign the money spent each year on universities and colleges to ensure that skills shortages and gaps don’t damage economic growth or young people’s employment prospects.”

The organisation is urging ministers to roll out a grant scheme to help small employers invest in training.

“Streamlining the funding arrangements and increasing the money on offer to employers are two sure ways of getting more employers to invest in taking on an apprentice, as is a more tailored approach to learning,” Mr Willox said.

“Finance is still the main barrier to accredited training in small firms, so we want to see the Scottish Executive meet its pledge to roll out the successful parts of the Business Learning Account, which offered up to 50% of training costs related to business growth.”