Youth Employment Minister meets with Advisory Board group of apprentices
Members of the Scottish Apprenticeship Advisory Board’s Apprentice Engagement Group (SAAB AEG) met with Jamie Hepburn MSP, Minister for Higher Education, Further Education, Youth Employment and Training as part of Scottish Apprenticeship Week.
This year’s Scottish Apprenticeship Week, which has the theme ‘Apprenticeships Work’, gave Mr Hepburn the opportunity to meet with a diverse group of members of the SAAB Apprentice Engagement Group. The AEG consists of current and former apprentices who work to promote apprenticeships to young people, employers, and decision-makers.
During the online meeting, Mr Hepburn heard from each member about their apprenticeship and career journey. The group discussed topics such as the importance of parity of esteem between apprenticeships and traditional further and higher education. They also considered issues such as gender imbalance within apprenticeships and the wider workforce, and wellbeing at work.
The apprentices and the Minister discovered a shared enthusiasm for diversity and inclusion and agreed to explore how they could collaborate more closely to support efforts to strengthen this agenda within apprenticeships.
AEG member and winner of Scotland’s Apprentice Ambassador of the Year, David Scott said: “We are delighted that the Minister again took the time to meet with us as part of Scottish Apprenticeship Week. Mr Hepburn and the group share the same passion to make apprenticeships accessible to all young people.
“The Minister recognises the importance of our views and first-hand experience of apprenticeships, and we are excited to continue to support the Scottish Government with our advice and activity.”
In recognition of the significant work of the Apprentice Engagement Group, Mr Hepburn welcomed regular six-monthly meetings with the apprentices going forward, to progress with fulfilling their shared goals.
Read more about the SAAB Apprentice Engagement Group
Visit apprenticeships.scot to find out more about apprenticeships