Current status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 24 March 2026
To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting small and medium-sized businesses to take on more apprentices, particularly in sectors experiencing skills shortages, in light of reports that many smaller employers consider the cost and administrative requirements of training to be a barrier to offering apprenticeship opportunities.
The Scottish Government is investing around £198 million this year to support 25,000 new Modern Apprenticeships (MAs), alongside 5,000 new Foundation Apprenticeships and over 1,200 Graduate Apprenticeships. Our investment enables continued support for over 39,000 apprentices already in training.
SDS provide a range of useful information and resources on their website for employers on how to take on apprentices and work with training providers. There is also some business support available through Find business support in Scotland | Find Business Support and local employability services Local Employability Services | Employability in Scotland. A continued key priority as we reform the skills system will be to encourage greater participation from small and micro businesses.
We remain committed to working with employers and industry leaders to make sure that employers across Scotland, particularly in areas of skills shortage, can continue to access the talent they need to succeed.