Education, Children and Young People Committee 03 December 2025 [Draft]
I worked with Colleges Scotland on the amendment, and 75 per cent is the capacity that it would expect to be able to deliver, leaving 25 per cent for other providers in the sector. There would be a transfer of additional apprenticeship work. I hope that there will be a growing capacity. On a number of visits—especially to parts of the economy here in Edinburgh—I have heard about the opportunity for more collaboration between businesses. Other amendments that I have lodged would provide additional funding for colleges to supplement that. For example, the construction sector is crying out for more people to be trained.
Edinburgh College told me that it could take three times the number of people it is currently training, which the sector is desperate for. The amendment would provide for a minimum level of 75 per cent, and I would hope that the college sector could raise additional opportunities.
09:15I realise that I have a lot of amendments in the group, so I will try to make a bit more progress.
Amendment 110 would change the definition of “training provider” from “a person” to a
“registered company or accountable body”.
Amendment 111 would create a mechanism for colleges to act
“as a lead delivery partner for ... Scottish apprenticeships and work-based learning in”
their region when they receive funding under proposed new section 12J of the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 2005.
Taken as a package, the amendments would ensure that our colleges are formally enabled, and required, to act as lead delivery providers, securing their role rather than leaving management wholly to training providers. The minimum percentage floor would therefore ensure that a guaranteed share of modern apprenticeships is anchored in our college sector, thus preserving capacity, aligning the college infrastructure to what is needed and maintaining local access.
My amendments 104 to 107 deal with the role of SMEs in providing training opportunities and with the provision of dedicated access to grants, loans and other payments to allow them to deliver Scottish apprenticeships. The amendments would provide that regard must be had to the economic priorities of Scottish ministers and to the skills needs in different industries.
There are a number of amendments in relation to reporting requirements around transparency and accountability.