From As the national skills body, we, Skills Development Scotland (SDS) support the people and businesses of Scotland by delivering services that help them to achieve their ambitions.

With careers advisers in secondary schools and high street centres across the country, we are passionate about developing skills in the community and getting more young people into work.

We also support and promote work based learning and apprenticeships which offer young people the chance to get a job, get paid and get qualified.

As part of this promotion, we are working with employers, training providers and partners to co-ordinate events and activity throughout autumn to raise awareness of apprenticeships and the benefits of work based learning.

The Scottish Government’s Youth Employment Strategy and the aims of Developing the Young Workforce include reducing youth unemployment and bringing education and industry closer together.

To support this, young people in Dumfries and Galloway are encouraged find out more about apprenticeships at an upcoming SDS event taking place on Friday 25^th at Easterbrook Hall.

Aimed at pupils from S2 to S4, this event will help inform pupils when making choices about their future. It provides  a great opportunity to hear real life experiences from apprentices as well as the chance to meet employers.  Young people will get an insight as to the benefits of apprenticeships and career opportunities provided by work based learning through exclusive demonstrations.

You might not know but there are more than 25,500 new Modern Apprenticeship opportunities across Scotland each year, with over 80 different types available in hundreds of jobs!  From financial services and healthcare to construction and IT, each apprenticeship is developed by industry to suit their needs.    This means that apprentices can build valuable work experience from day one and gain an accredited qualification which is recognised by industry.

It’s worth noting that last year there were 765 Modern Apprenticeship starts in Dumfries and Galloway, up from 753 in 2014/15.

Apprenticeships provide an alternative route into the world of work, equipping young people with the skills they need to succeed. Foundation Apprenticeships mean you can also now start a Modern Apprenticeship at school.   With a Foundation Apprenticeship pupils in S5 can complete elements of a Modern Apprenticeship alongside their other studies, such as Nat5s or Highers.Foundation Apprenticeships take two years to complete with pupils spending part of the week out of school, getting hands-on experience at college and with a local employer in their chosen industry.

With a Foundation Apprenticeship they leave school with an industry-recognised qualification which is set at SCQF level 6 – the same level as a Higher.

And now Graduate Level Apprenticeships provide a new way into degree-level study for individuals who are currently employed, or who want to go straight into work.

Visit apprenticeships.scot  to find out all you need to know about apprenticeships and to search and apply for vacancies.