Chamber and committees

Apprenticeships are a key way for all employers to invest in their workforce, providing the skills the economy needs both now and in the future.

Published in December 2020, the Climate Emergency Skills Action Plan (CESAP) sets out the actions we need to take to ensure our workforce is able to support the transition to net zero. Agile and responsive work-based learning, including apprenticeships, will support these ambitions and the CESAP notes the importance of developing new work-based learning pathways to capitalise on net-zero opportunities and maximising the uptake of apprenticeships in green jobs.

In this context, the Scottish Apprenticeship Advisory Board (SAAB) commissioned IFF Research to carry out a consultation with SAAB members, and other employers, covering industry views on the importance of reflecting sustainability into Scottish apprenticeships, and the steps required to achieve this. A final report of findings and recommendations was published in November 2021 which highlighted the need to raise awareness of climate change amongst apprentices and their employers.

Ministers are due to meet SAAB to discuss their findings on 27 January 2022. Although climate literacy skills are not currently mandatory within our apprenticeship frameworks, we are keen to work with SAAB and businesses to explore how we could effectively integrate climate awareness into work-based learning in Scotland, ensuring apprenticeships remain flexible and relevant to the current working environment as we transition to net zero, and encouraging apprentices to be at the forefront of behaviour change within their organisations.

The Scottish Government will continue to work collaboratively with Skills Development Scotland, the Scottish Funding Council and the Scottish Apprenticeship Advisory Board to maximise apprenticeships and prioritise a recovery that creates new jobs, good jobs and green jobs, supporting the long-term future of work-based learning and the economy.