Salmond's joy as apprentice goal smashed

ALEX Salmond today revealed the Scottish Government had exceeded its target of delivering 18,500 modern apprenticeships in the past year.

Visiting the Edinburgh Construction Group's site at Edinburgh University, the First Minister announced nearly 20,000 people in Scotland had started a modern apprenticeship since April last year.

He said it had been a challenge to beat the target at a time of severe economic turbulence and tight public expenditure.