Glasgow City Council is to be offered additional funding of around £6m to help create an additional 1000 new Modern Apprenticeship places.

The funding - £2m a year over the next three years - will enable Skills Development Scotland to work with Glasgow City Council on creating the additional places in 2009-10.

Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning Fiona Hyslop said: "This will ensure that young people in the City who are seeking training places do not suffer due to the impact of the economic downturn.

"This move will also ensure that Glasgow is able to continue to create the skilled workforce it needs to support ongoing construction projects such as Commonwealth Games building works."

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The announcement follows confirmation by the Scottish Government last week that it is to provide additional funding of £16m in 2009-10 to increase the number of new starts on Modern Apprenticeships in Scotland to 18,500 in 2009-10 (an increase of 7,800) and a commitment to sustain these individuals in their places for the duration of their apprenticeship.

Ministers also announced their intention to convene an apprenticeship summit involving key players to consider how they can best develop the skills and jobs needed during the economic downturn and how we can improve opportunities during the recovery. It will also explore how the additional MA places can be used to support key sectors, such as the food and drink, hospitality and tourism and energy.

Earlier this month, the Scottish Government announced that as part of its Budget, it would allocate an additional £16 million in 2009-10 to increase the number of new starts on MAs to 18,500 in 2009-10.

The Scottish Government also made clear that it would be hosting an Apprenticeship Summit to discuss how it would use the additional MA places for both young people and adults to support key sectors.

(GK/BMcC)