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Apprenticeship numbers on target, Audit Scotland says | Apprenticeship numbers on target, Audit Scotland says |
(about 7 hours later) | |
More than 25,000 apprentices have started their training in each of the past two years, according to the latest figures. | More than 25,000 apprentices have started their training in each of the past two years, according to the latest figures. |
An Audit Scotland report welcomed findings that the Scottish government was meeting its target on apprentices. | An Audit Scotland report welcomed findings that the Scottish government was meeting its target on apprentices. |
Skills Development Scotland was managing the £75m programme well, added the report. | Skills Development Scotland was managing the £75m programme well, added the report. |
But it also warned analysis was needed on whether apprenticeships provided good value for money in the long term. | But it also warned analysis was needed on whether apprenticeships provided good value for money in the long term. |
Minister for Youth Employment Angela Constance said the report highlighted the "substantial achievements" of the modern apprenticeship programme. | Minister for Youth Employment Angela Constance said the report highlighted the "substantial achievements" of the modern apprenticeship programme. |
The report noted that the number of apprentices had increased despite difficult circumstances in the labour market over the past four years, with spending on the policy increasing by a quarter during that time. | The report noted that the number of apprentices had increased despite difficult circumstances in the labour market over the past four years, with spending on the policy increasing by a quarter during that time. |
There had also been a significant increase in the number of female apprentices, with women making up 43% of new recruits to the scheme in 2012-13. | |
Three quarters of the funding, said Audit Scotland, was being spent on "expensive, higher level" training, which would take longer to complete and could cost more in future. | Three quarters of the funding, said Audit Scotland, was being spent on "expensive, higher level" training, which would take longer to complete and could cost more in future. |
Value for money | Value for money |
The report also raised concerns about whether the long-term value of the programme was being adequately measured. | The report also raised concerns about whether the long-term value of the programme was being adequately measured. |
It said the Scottish government's "existing performance measures do not focus on long-term outcomes, such as sustainable employment". | It said the Scottish government's "existing performance measures do not focus on long-term outcomes, such as sustainable employment". |
It added: "More specific long-term aims and objectives, along with more information about their benefits and appropriate performance measures, are needed to assess value for money." | It added: "More specific long-term aims and objectives, along with more information about their benefits and appropriate performance measures, are needed to assess value for money." |
Auditor General for Scotland Caroline Gardner said national training body Skills Development Scotland (SDS), which runs the programme for the Scottish government, had "done well in challenging economic circumstances". | Auditor General for Scotland Caroline Gardner said national training body Skills Development Scotland (SDS), which runs the programme for the Scottish government, had "done well in challenging economic circumstances". |
"Modern apprenticeships can help create employment opportunities and meet the immediate needs of employers," she added. | "Modern apprenticeships can help create employment opportunities and meet the immediate needs of employers," she added. |
"The development of better outcomes measures would help the Scottish government to understand the long-term benefits of apprenticeships. | "The development of better outcomes measures would help the Scottish government to understand the long-term benefits of apprenticeships. |
"It would also allow funding to be directed to those apprenticeships which offer the best value for individuals, employers and the economy." | "It would also allow funding to be directed to those apprenticeships which offer the best value for individuals, employers and the economy." |
Minister for Youth Employment Angela Constance said the Scottish government was exceeding its targets, and that the young people being helped were training and working to a high level. | Minister for Youth Employment Angela Constance said the Scottish government was exceeding its targets, and that the young people being helped were training and working to a high level. |
She added: "The work of the Wood Commission is setting out a clear vision for the future of modern apprenticeships, which will continue to meet our aims and ambitions for Scotland. | She added: "The work of the Wood Commission is setting out a clear vision for the future of modern apprenticeships, which will continue to meet our aims and ambitions for Scotland. |
"This report confirms that we are building from strong foundations." | "This report confirms that we are building from strong foundations." |
Damien Yeates, chief executive of SDS, welcomed the Audit Scotland report, saying apprenticeships encouraged sustainable growth. | Damien Yeates, chief executive of SDS, welcomed the Audit Scotland report, saying apprenticeships encouraged sustainable growth. |
He added: "It highlights the achievement of delivering a 143% increase in the number of new apprenticeships while funding has increased by only 24% in real terms. | He added: "It highlights the achievement of delivering a 143% increase in the number of new apprenticeships while funding has increased by only 24% in real terms. |
"We will take forward its recommendations, including the endorsement of our planned changes to contribution rates that better reflect the cost of training provision." | "We will take forward its recommendations, including the endorsement of our planned changes to contribution rates that better reflect the cost of training provision." |
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