Analysis by the Scottish National Party of statistics from Skills Development Scotland reveals that 25,247 individuals began learning on the job in 2014/15 – up 59.7 per cent on the 15,803 recorded in 2007/08.

And calls have been made for rises in the minimum wage for apprentices, which currently stands at £2.73.

MSP Stewart Maxwell suggests that such increases could be vital if more people are to be encouraged to sign up to the training schemes.

“Apprenticeships are a key part of the SNP in government’s successful youth employment strategy,” he said.

“It is absolutely vital that we can continue to attract more young people into the modern apprentice programme – and that they are not put off by the disincentive of low pay.”

The news on the growing number of modern apprenticeships comes as figures show a fall in Scottish unemployment.

Data from the Office for National Statistics reveals unemployment in Scotland fell by 15,000 to 152,000 in the three months to May, down by 39,000 compared to the same quarter in 2014.

It means the Scottish unemployment rate is now 5.5 per cent, marginally below the rate of 5.6 per cent for the UK.

Employment also increased by 1,000 during the same three-month period, up 40,000 year on year.

A total of 2,616,000 people are now in work across Scotland. The Scottish employment rate is 74.3 per cent, slightly above the UK average of 73.3 per cent.