Ethnic Minority Communities Encouraged To Take Up Apprenticeships
Partnership launched during Scottish Apprenticeship Week to increase participation
A NEW partnership aimed at encouraging more ethnic minority groups to undertake Modern Apprenticeships has been launched during Scottish Apprenticeship Week.
Skills Development Scotland (SDS) and BEMIS Scotland have joined forces in a bid to raise awareness of Modern Apprenticeships (MAs) among ethnic minority communities and increase their participation in the programme.
The partnership will run until March 2016 and two new recruits will drive the project forward through a number of initiatives. Damien Yeates, Chief Executive of SDS, said:
Scotland’s population is made up of people from a vast number of ethnic minority communities and we want to ensure the Modern Apprenticeship programme is reflective of this diverse culture.
We are delighted to embark on a partnership with BEMIS Scotland to raise awareness among ethnic minority communities of the benefits of Modern Apprenticeships and to ensure equal access to the programme for all.
As well as working with key ethnic minority organisations, we will host seminars and work closely with training providers to realise our ambition of increasing the number of people from ethnic minority communities undertaking apprenticeships.
The partnership was launched during Scottish Apprenticeship Week, which runs from 18 to 22 May and highlights the benefits apprenticeships bring to employers, individuals and the economy.
SDS is working with colleges, local authorities and employers including Scottish Gas, Microsoft and Dawnfresh on a number of events that are taking place this week to promote apprenticeships.
BEMIS Scotland CEO Dr. Rami Ousta added:
The Modern Apprenticeship programme is valued by apprentices as well as by employers across Scotland as it offers new pathways into wider employment opportunities and helps build employability skills and knowledge for young people while in paid employment.
It is crucial that all of Scotland’s people are aware of the benefits of the programme and have the opportunity to undertake an apprenticeship.
That is why BEMIS Scotland welcomed a partnership with SDS. We look forward to working together to ensure ethnic minority communities feel empowered to undertake a Modern Apprenticeship and fulfil their potential through this training programme.
For further information, please contact:
Skills Development Scotland
External Communications
Frances Ridge
Tel: 0141 285 6131
Email: frances.ridge@sds.co.uk
www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk
BEMIS Scotland
Equality and Parliamentary Officer
Danny Boyle
Tel: 0141 548 8047
Email: danny.boyle@bemis.org.uk
www.bemis.org.uk
