The freeze on new Modern Apprenticeship places is set to end on 16 April 2024.
The Scottish Government has now agreed its budget with Skills Development Scotland (SDS) which has allowed SDS to issue delivery contracts to training providers, colleges and employers.
Thousands of young people have been unable to start their Modern Apprenticeship on 1 April 2024 as planned because of the funding delay. And training providers and colleges have been left wondering if and when delivery contracts will be issued.
The situation has been particularly worrying for independent training providers who hold around 70% of the delivery contracts for Scottish Modern Apprenticeships. Many are small businesses who rely on their apprenticeship contract to stay in business.
SDS released a statement on 4 April 2024:
“Following confirmation from the Scottish Government, SDS is progressing Modern Apprenticeship contract awards for 2024/25 new starts and in-training in line with procurement processes.”
“Contract award letters for new starts are being issued today (Thursday, 4 April), with a 10-day mandatory standstill period, with contract awards due to be concluded by 16th April.”
“This follows SDS one-month contract extensions issued to 2023-24 contracted providers to provide continuity to the c. 38,000 apprentices currently in-training.”
STF Chief Executive, Stuart McKenna, said: “I welcome the issue of these delivery contracts which will bring some stability back to the sector. This is the second year in succession that delivery contracts have been delayed resulting in a lot of worry and distress to training providers and those wishing to start an apprenticeship.”
“Whilst it’s unlikely that this delay will have a lasting impact on the MA programme, there will certainly be short term problems whilst training providers and colleges play catch up on lost time.”
