The Scottish Government announced an additional £8.8 million investment in Modern Apprenticeships on 24 September, which would see a 10% increase in contribution rates from 2027/28. 

Stephanie Lowe, deputy chief executive of SNIPEF, said: “We welcome this additional investment in Scotland’s Modern Apprenticeship programme. 

“After several years in which the real value of apprenticeship funding has been steadily eroded, this 10% uplift is an important and much-needed step.”

Lowe added: “For SNIPEF Training Services, as an employer-led managing agent for the plumbing and heating profession, maintaining rigorous standards and providing high-quality support to employers and apprentices are fundamental to what we do.

“We have worked closely with the Scottish Government over the past two years to demonstrate the resources required to deliver that service effectively, and this additional investment will help us continue to strengthen the quality and support we provide.”

But Lowe cautioned that the success of an apprenticeship “depends not only on properly resourced delivery, but on employers having the confidence, capacity and support to create and sustain apprenticeship opportunities.”

Lowe commented: “This is particularly important in safety-critical and delivery-critical professions such as plumbing and heating, where employers make a significant four-year commitment to developing the skilled professionals Scotland will need for decades to come.

“We therefore welcome this investment as an important first step and look forward to continuing to work with the Scottish Government on how we also support the employers at the heart of Scotland’s apprenticeship system.”