New figures show 627 new apprenticeships in Dumfries & Galloway

SNP MSP for the South of Scotland Aileen is today (Tuesday) welcoming new figures showing that Scotland is on course to exceed the target of 25,000 new Modern Apprenticeships this year – including a total of 627 starts in Dumfries & Galloway.
 
The figures released by Skills Development Scotland show that by the end of the third quarter of 2014/15 there were 19,517 modern apprenticeship starts in Scotland – 78 per cent of the total annual target and a 2 per cent increase on the same point last year.
 
Aileen said:
“These very welcome figures are testament to the Scottish Government’s commitment to investing in youth employment – creating almost 100,000 new apprenticeship opportunities over the last four years including a total of 627 starts in Dumfries & Galloway in 2014/15 so far.
 
“Apprenticeships play a key role in the Scottish Government’s efforts to promote youth employment and these figures are further evidence of the real results being achieved for young people across Dumfries & Galloway – but there is always more which could be done.
 
“With the full range of economic powers in Scotland’s hands rather than Westminster’s we can do even more to boost youth employment and give local young people the opportunities they deserve.
 
“This is one of the reasons we need to elect an SNP MP in Dumfries & Galloway in May – to use their clout to make the case for the ‘extensive’ new powers we were promised which would allow us to do even more to support young people in this region into work.”
Notes to editors.
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