Scottish school leavers receive job training support

A new £2 million scheme plans to help school leavers into jobs in Scotland by providing them with training opportunities.

The Scottish Government will fund 420 new places for young people to learn skills in engineering, warehousing, retail, IT and administration. Their training will be funded for up to six months - and it is hoped that this will help them move directly onto the Modern Apprenticeship programme or straight into further training or employment.

Damien Yeates, chief executive of Skills Development Scotland, said:

"Young people are amongst the hardest hit by the current economic climate. It is vital that they get extra help in training for jobs right now. This programme is all about giving young people immediate, flexible support, access to building relevant employability skills and preparing them for the jobs of the future."

Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning Fiona Hyslop added that the government was doing everything it could to provide more opportunities to those leaving school.

“I am passionate about improving the life chances of all young Scots and improving the destinations of this group is crucial. It is important that we provide as many options as possible for young people who in the current economic climate may find it more difficult to naturally progress to formal education or training, especially in the current climate,” she said.