A scheme aimed at helping more women into careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) is to get a further £125,000 of Scottish Government funding, it was announced yesterday.
The cash boost is for the CareerWISE modern apprenticeship (MA) initiative, which is aimed at raising awareness of STEM MAs among girls and their parents, breaking down barriers to women taking them up and showcasing the employers taking action to address gender diversity.
It coincides with the start of Scottish Apprenticeship Week 2015, the annual showcase to highlight the benefits of MAs to both employers and potential trainees, and also a pledge by pub operator and brewer Greene King to deliver 300 apprenticeships in Scotland over the next year.
CareerWISE, which is delivered by Equate Scotland at Edinburgh Napier University, was launched in 2013 to raise awareness of STEM careers for girls from school age onwards.
Announcing the extra cash, Fair Work, Skills and Training Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said: “The CareerWISE programme has made a considerable impact over the last 18 months, however, there remains the need to address gender balance in the STEM sectors in Scotland.
“The Scottish Government still firmly believes that there is no such thing as a job for a boy or a job for a girl.
“Our continued support for the CareerWise programme and its new focus to support young women access STEM MAs sits at the heart of our drive for a more productive and fairer workplace.”
She added: “We need more women to take up non-traditional career paths to achieve gender equality in the workplace. We are also committed to creating 30,000 new MA opportunities every year by 2020 and more women placed in STEM sectors will help us move towards that goal.”
Scottish Apprenticeship Week 2015 looks like being the biggest yet, with dozens of events up and down the country.
Skills Development Scotland chief executive Damien Yeates said: “Modern apprenticeships provide excellent opportunities for young people to work, learn and earn.
“We want Scottish Apprenticeship Week to inspire young people to find out about apprenticeships and take up the great opportunities apprenticeships provide to give their careers a great start.”
Pub operator and brewer Greene King is today making a pledge to deliver 300 apprenticeships in Scotland in 2015.
The firm had previously unveiled plans to recruit 2,000 apprentices across the UK this year, having filled its 2014 quota of 2,000. In total, since 2011, Greene King has helped to support over 4,500 apprentices.
Working with apprenticeship provider Lifetime Training, Greene King aims to help more young people in Scotland “hone the skills necessary to progress from team members to general managers through a structured programme of advanced management qualifications”.
Rooney Anand, the company’s chief executive, said: “We are pleased to be able to support young people as they take that all-important first step on the career ladder.
“It is highly encouraging to see that so many of our sites have taken up the programme and we hope that over the coming years we are able to further grow and develop the scheme.
“Apprenticeships help to reduce team turnover, increase employee engagement and provide us with the opportunity to grow our own talent by investing in our people and supporting their career ambitions.”
Greene King operates about 1,900 pubs, restaurants and hotels across England, Wales and Scotland, while its beer brands include Greene King IPA, Old Speckled Hen, Abbot Ale and Belhaven Best.
On Friday, telecoms giant BT got behind Scottish Apprenticeship Week 2015 by announcing 90 new MA posts.