STUC. Scottish Union Learning. The learning force behind Scotland's workers.

What is a Modern Apprenticeship?

Modern Apprenticeships provide the chance to ‘earn and learn’ in a wide range of jobs and sectors and give the Modern Apprentice a chance to develop skills, experience and qualifications.

Modern Apprenticeships were introduced in Scotland (and elsewhere in the UK) in the mid 1990s to raise the number of young adults - the mainstay of the future workforce - with skills at intermediate level - the equivalent of at least upper secondary education.

Since then, Modern Apprenticeships have undergone a number of changes both in terms of policy and delivery. They have evolved to provide training opportunities for people of all ages, helping to ensure that both new recruits and existing employees have the right skills required to tackle real jobs, and that employers have committed, highly trained employees. Currently there are approximately 34,000 Modern Apprentices in Scotland.