A trade association has warned that a ‘two-tier’ apprenticeship programme is developing north and south of the border which risks Scotland losing an entire generation of electrical workers.
Funding for apprenticeships in Scotland is about a third of what is on offer in England as a result of a failure to increase support for several years.
A 15% grant funding increase for English electrical apprenticeships has brought funding south of the border to £23,000 per apprentice – almost three times the current Scottish figure of just under £8,000.
Alan Wilson, managing director at electrotechnical association SELECT, said: “Funding for apprenticeships in Scotland hasn’t increased in more than seven years and has actually reduced by more than 30% in real terms as a result of inflation.
“We cannot begin to have a renewables future in Scotland without electricians, so the Scottish Government must find the cash. A two-tier system is entirely unacceptable.”
Skills England, a government agency of the UK’s Department for Education, confirmed the funding rise earlier this month to The Electrotechnical Skills Partnership (TESP), which delivers skills projects and careers information for the electrotechnical industry.
TESP said: “Skills England has advised us that the Secretary of State has accepted its funding recommendation of £23,000 for the Installation & Maintenance Electrician apprenticeship. This represents an increase of £3,000 on the current funding band.”
It added that this was “a very good result in the current climate” and thanked employers and providers who worked with TESP to develop the evidence base to secure the increase.
In Scotland, electrical apprenticeships are offered through Skills Development Scotland’s modern apprenticeship programmes, which provide paid, on-the-job training programmes that combine work with industry-recognised qualifications.
Mr Wilson added: “Scotland absolutely must not be left behind when it comes to apprenticeship funding.
“There is the clear danger of a two-tier system, with Scottish industry losing out to England’s, as well as a very real risk that we will lose a generation of skilled electrical talent when we can least afford it.”
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