Out of the shipyards, into shops for new apprentices

SCOTLAND has unveiled its next generation of apprentices – with shipbuilding and joinery joined by the modern skills of stock control and checkout work.

The government yesterday revealed the latest instalment in its 16 million plan to create 2,000 retail apprenticeships. Apprentices will learn stock control, customer service, communication and till operation.

New Look, Tesco, Asda, Superdrug and Sainsbury's are among stores that will use the government cash to train apprentices. However, critics demanded more proof of progress on a promise to create 18,500 apprenticeships this year.

A government spokeswoman said: "It's not how some would imagine the old apprenticeships used to be, but the retail sector is important and we need to make sure people coming through this period of economic instability have the skills they will need afterwards."

John Park, Labour's skills and economy spokesman, said: "Being an apprentice is not just about being an electrician on the shipyard.

It is about giving people opportunities wherever they want to work and about making sure you actually get qualifications which help you move on from that or within it."

But he also called for proof of progress towards the full 18,500 training places promised. He said:

"The Scottish Government must be prepared to take radical steps if these places are going to provide opportunities for those who need them most."

The latest apprenticeships were announced by education secretary Fiona Hyslop as part of an attempt to create 7,800 training positions this year. She announced the 2,000 extra apprenticeships at the New Look flagship store at Silverburn shopping centre in Glasgow.

She said: "Apprentices are vital for Scotland's recovery.

The retail sector's future success will be vital to our economic recovery. That is why we want to ensure that those entering it develop the necessary skills to succeed."

Although the firms pay apprentices' wages, the government money will cover training in specific areas. The retail apprenticeships last for between two and three years.

The funding is part of ScotAction – the Scottish Government's skills-support package to help drag Scotland's economy out of recession.

The Scottish Government previously announced 6m for 1,000 apprentices in Glasgow over the next three years to support the Commonwealth Games legacy, 50 in the creative sector and 100 in for home energy and efficiency.

TRAINING THE SKILLED WORKERS OF TOMORROW

APPRENTICESHIPS date back to ancient Egypt as a way for craftsmen to pass on their skills to the next generation.

By the 13th century, European crafts guilds oversaw training to ensure standards were maintained.

Traditionally, it took seven years for an apprentice to be good enough to become a journeyman guild member.

Apprenticeships became increasingly important in the industrial age, as the advent of complicated machinery created a need for specialist skills.

Ship-building, carpentry, house building and engineering have all traditionally been taught through on-the-job apprenticeships.

However, with increasing mechanisation and production-line factories, fewer skilled craftsmen were needed.

Apprenticeships have become shorter and have often been replaced by college training.

Today's apprenticeships can be as short as two years and have changed to areas such as retail and life sciences as the world's economy has changed.