By Aileen Robertson

LABOUR LEADER Wendy Alexander used a visit to Rosyth yesterday to launch a bill to allow all teenagers between the ages of 16 and 18 to follow an apprenticeship.

According to Labour, 30,000 modern apprenticeships would be created if the bill was passed.

The Apprenticeship Bill is sponsored by John Park, Labour MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, a former apprentice electrical fitter at Rosyth dockyard.

Ms Alexander met apprentices and training staff at Carnegie College’s school of engineering and technology.

She said, “It needs to be recognised that there will be less low-skilled jobs in the future and therefore less opportunity for unskilled young people to enter the job market straight from school.

“Under the SNP, Scotland is in danger of falling behind.”

Mr Park added, “An apprenticeship gives you not just technical skills but core skills that will give you an edge in what will become in the future an increasingly competitive labour market.”

“Scotland will need skilled people for forthcoming projects such as the aircraft carriers being built at Rosyth and preparations for the Commonwealth Games,” said Mr Park.

“There will be more pressure on Scotland to provide skilled workers.”

Marion Craig, Carnegie College’s employment business development manager, welcomed the bill.

She said, “We wholeheartedly support the ethos behind this bill. For several years Carnegie College’s business development team have been providing modern apprenticeship advice and support to businesses throughout central Scotland.

“These work-based qualifications offer a host of career opportunities including accounting, administration, construction trades, customer service, engineering, tourism, information technology and sport and recreation, and have proved highly successful for both employers and students.

“Vocational training opportunities supported by legislation will help ensure that skill shortages in all industry sectors are addressed.”

College principal Professor Bill McIntosh said, “In the engineering sector alone we have seen a growth in modern apprenticeships from around 51 candidates two years ago to well over a hundred at this time with an expectation that this will continue to grow significantly.”

But SNP backbencher Bill Kidd hit out at Labour’s approach to the issue.

He said, “Instead of forcing people through apprenticeships so bureaucrats can tick a few boxes they should look to the approach being taken by the Scottish Government and endorsed by businesses and trainers.

“It must be about quality, flexibility and meeting the skills needs of the economy —not about hitting pre-arranged quotas.”

Speaking earlier, Ms Alexander dismissed poor opinion poll ratings and was confident Labour would win the battle of ideas.

Ms Alexander this weekend publishes a pamphlet on the future for Labour, setting out “new directions.”

She said she was “frustrated” at a lack of scrutiny of SNP policies in areas like housing, and said Labour was intent on setting the agenda.