Dozens get help back into work

DOZENS of young people from Edinburgh who have been made redundant have been helped back into work by a Scottish Government scheme.

Under the "Adopt an Apprentice" scheme, 600 young people across Scotland that have lost their jobs have been given apprenticeships with firms, which are supported by a 2000 government incentive.

Skills minister Keith Brown was in Edinburgh yesterday to meet one of the 43 people in the city to have benefited from the scheme.

Ian Ramsay lost his job but was taken on by Ballina Construction through the scheme.

Mr Brown said: "Ian is just one of hundreds of success stories of young apprentices being saved from unemployment and taken on by a company through the incentivised Adopt an Apprenticeship scheme.

"Our scheme is a further safeguard against the effects of the downturn and recession and I am delighted that it has kept 600 apprentices in training and work."

Damien Yeates, chief executive of Skills Development Scotland, said: "It's an important part of our drive to promote a competitive, skilled workforce."