Council under fire over EICC apprentices

CITY leaders have been criticised for failing to create apprenticeships at one of the biggest council developments.

Labour councillors say that the council should have insisted the contractor appointed for the expansion of the Edinburgh International Conference Centre create apprenticeships.

In response to a question by Labour councillor Ewan Aitken, leader Jenny Dawe admitted that a deal had not been struck - but said she would see if one could still be agreed.

Cllr Aitken said: "When Labour delivered 34 new and refurbished schools we built a requirement for apprenticeships into the contract.

"It's a scandal that the council leader admitted they hadn't even thought of doing this.

"The EICC is a major project and the council should do everything they can to make sure this is not yet another lost opportunity."