More apprenticeships- only if you live in Scotland

[baldelectrician]

This thread was prompted by me reading another thread and noticing a Scottish Government Consultation

The consultation suggests all companies that win a public contract be required to submit an apprenticeship work plan.

This stems from the baldelectrician going to a tv debate in Scotland last year;, although I suggested this (and thought of it on my own), other brainy people came up with it aswell :clap:

The part relating to the provision of apprenticeships in Scotland is in Part 2 , 8 min 10 sec in.
I need to put a health warning in here- you will actually see the baldelectrician on TV, so don't watch if you have a sensetive disposition :74:

To sum up, the Scottish Government have announced that they have made the provision of apprenticeships a requirement when they directly award a contract- every company that gets a contract awarded must have an apprenticeship proposal that is acceptible in order to have a contract.

This is in place for all direct contracts, but it does not affect contracts spending government money in Scotland (such as health service contracts or local authority contracts). This consultation will close this loophole and make it a requirement to provide apprenticeships

 

[jimmymac]

Exellent news, my younger brother is trying to find an apprenticeship at the moment and the compettion is unbelievable, he's managed to get some sort of goverment grant but he's still having difficulties

 

[sparks1973]

hmm....proposal is one thing bald.......placement another...another loophole?.....look, it all sounds good (and i`m sure there will be a `carrot` dangled in front of the snout n all`....but actions speak louder than words.....however....seems like `us south of the border` are following the lead....again.....so, who proposed this?....is it the scottish assembly.....or just Mr. Salmond on a `training exercise` again?....

 

[baldelectrician]

hmm....proposal is one thing bald.......placement another...another loophole?.....look, it all sounds good (and i`m sure there will be a `carrot` dangled in front of the snout n all`....but actions speak louder than words.....however....seems like `us south of the border` are following the lead....again.....so, who proposed this?....is it the scottish assembly.....or just Mr. Salmond on a `training exercise` again?....

I went to the ITV Scotland Question Time thingy just before the last Scottish Parliament elections and raised this point - see the video on the link above.
The issue had been known- 2 councils make training apprentices a condition of any contract - this was acknowleged by the then Scottish Labour leader and not brought forward as a policy idea

The difference- the SNP government have taken action and implemented it (as far as they can - for directly appointed contracts), and are now consulting on a bill that will effectively mean any governent money spent in Scotland will require an apprentice training plan and a commitment as part of the contract conditions

Some governments talk the talk, sometimes some walk the walk.

 

[sparks1973]

I went to the ITV Scotland Question Time thingy just before the last Scottish Parliament elections and raised this point - see the video on the link above.
The issue had been known- 2 councils make training apprentices a condition of any contract - this was acknowleged by the then Scottish Labour leader and not brought forward as a policy idea

The difference- the SNP government have taken action and implemented it (as far as they can - for directly appointed contracts), and are now consulting on a bill that will effectively mean any governent money spent in Scotland will require an apprentice training plan and a commitment as part of the contract conditions

Some governments talk the talk, sometimes some walk the walk.

noble indeed.....but it has to work......so, are there any safeguards in place to ensure that the work offered from local councils is spread fairly.....or will it be a case of the larger companys again being offered the contracts on the basis that they are the only ones that can `afford to take on in these difficult times`?.....now, is this `building for the future`?...look, we have this kind of scenareo already with local authoritys giving nearly all the work to NIC guys......it stinks of kickback n brown envelopes.....well, we all know that anyway but.....

 

[Guest123]

Let me make sure I understand this, in order to gain a new contract of work in Scotland, the government are forcing companies to take on an apprentice???

Whilst the sentiment is commendable, the above is not the way to do it IMO.

 

[baldelectrician]

The contract has to be above £100k, so any small contracts are not included.

The point is- people slate the Scots as being subsidy junkies and it's not the case.

We get the same funding per apprentice in Scotland as they get in England / Wales but as we keep costs lower the apprentice gets another week at college (to do inspection and testing more intensley) and the employer gets £750 after stage 1 , £750 after stage 2 and £1000 after completion of apprenticeship.

I think it's a great idea- nobody is forcing companies to take a government contract, but if they do then they train people. This only applies to contracts spending governent money

 

[Octopus]

Scotland learnt a had lesson when it commisssioned a new bridge and found it placed 90% of the business to overseas companies.

They have now learnt from the experience and are adding "clauses" to Government contracts about local "skill sourcing" and it would seem this is permissible under EU rules.

Good luck to the idea, lets hope that it and more and better apprenticeship schemes are "backed" by the UK as a whole.

 

[baldelectrician]

Scotland learnt a had lesson when it commisssioned a new bridge and found it placed 90% of the business to overseas companies.

They have now learnt from the experience and are adding "clauses" to Government contracts about local "skill sourcing" and it would seem this is permissible under EU rules.

Good luck to the idea, lets hope that it and more and better apprenticeship schemes are "backed" by the UK as a whole.

I agree- Scotland can't produce 90% of the steel needed for the new Forth Crossing due to cuts in the 80's and 90's. Then Labour had the cheek to chastise the SNP for following the procurement process laid down by LABOUR. You couldn't makt it up...

 

[Octopus]

I agree- Scotland can't produce 90% of the steel needed for the new Forth Crossing due to cuts in the 80's and 90's. Then Labour had the cheek to chastise the SNP for following the procurement process laid down by LABOUR. You couldn't makt it up...

If I remember correctly the Steel works that lost out is within eye sight of the new bridge!