Dundee is to become the latest city to host a new initiative which aims to match employers and apprentices.

The Shared Apprentice Programme targets SME companies who cannot commit to taking an apprentice for the full four years.

The project will apprentices and place them for a minimum of three months in a range of areas in demand with local business, with wages follow Scottish Building Apprenticeship and Training Council (SBATC) rates.

The scheme has been running in Angus since 2015 and is operated in partnership with Angus Council, Dundee and Angus College and construction businesses supported by CITB, as well as being endorsed by Skills Development Scotland and Scottish Government.

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Craig Bruce, Director of Pert Bruce Construction, will be one of the speakers at the Dundee launch event on 07 June.

Cllr Lynne Short: "I'm really pleased that this scheme is being extended to Dundee employers and young people.

"It means that smaller firms who maybe couldn't afford to pay things like National Insurance, holiday pay, college fees or pension costs for an apprentice are freed from having to worry about all that and can just get on with the business of providing relevant, effective and efficient training."

Kevin Murphy Chair of Shared Apprentice Programme said: "We are delighted to be able to bring a highly successful apprenticeship model into Dundee and we look forward to working with construction companies to train the next generation of apprentices."

Mr Bruce added: "We are delighted to support this excellent example of an initiative which addresses one of the construction industry's biggest challenges of skill shortage. It provides an opportunity for small businesses to take on apprentices when they are not able to commit to the full four years of the apprenticeship programme."

To find out more information, interested parties can attend a business breakfast scheduled for 7.30am at Dundee and Angus College's Kingsway Campus Lecture Theatre on Wednesday, 07 June.

(LM)