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Wendy Alexander announces action plan to get every Scot job ready

30/11/2000

An eight point action plan aimed at getting every Scot job ready for tomorrow's jobs was launched by Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning, Wendy Alexander today.

Speaking at the 'Get Into Enterprise' National Conference in Glasgow, Ms Alexander said that to realise the vision for a highly skilled "learning, earning nation", Scotland must be a leader in matching supply and demand in its labour market.

The action plan includes:

  • Strengthening and extending the New Deal in Scotland
  • Better matching of supply and demand in labour market. The new Scottish Labour Market Unit will get to grips with identifying skills shortages
  • 50 per cent increase in Further Education funding during the lifetime of the Parliament, creating 40,000 extra FE places and £3 million to assist costs of childcare
  • Doubling the number of modern apprenticeships during the Parliament
  • Scotland is leading the provision of new web enabled services. In the summer the Scottish Executive and Scottish Enterprise launched the web enabled Small Business Gateway, now it is launching Get Into Enterprise to help people into jobs.
  • In the New Year the Executive will unveil ambitious plans to offer superior Careers Guidance to Scots of all ages
  • New Joint plans with Trade Unions and small businesses are being created so people get Individual Learning Accounts and that the Scottish University for Industry offers learning how where and when people want it
  • Executive will shortly announce the results of the Adult Literacy 2000 team with a budget of over £20 million.

Ms Alexander said:

"Our ambition is for Scotland's workforce to return to full employment. This is one of our key goals but this eight point action plan outlines the work that must be done to achieve this goal.

"But we must also work harder in other areas to ensure Scots are job ready for tomorrow's jobs. The action plan outlines how to achieve this and includes looking at strengthening and extending the New Deal in Scotland, doubling up the number of modern apprenticeships to be created during the lifetime of this Parliament, better identifying skills shortages through the new Scottish Labour Market Unit.

"The Get into Enterprise programme targets the long-term unemployed, women, young people, ethnic minorities and special hardship groups. It was launched a year ago and has already succeeded in bringing 5000 people to the stage where they can home in on further education, employment or self-employment. Scottish Enterprise now wants to accelerate the process by putting the programme on-line, and in addition, providing virtual tutor support across Scotland. This is an excellent initiative and I look forward to its expansion.

"If we are to compete in the 21 st century it is vital we release all our talents to build a confident, ambitious Scotland. I am committed to driving forward this action plan to ensure every Scot has easy access to the best quality skills training and job opportunities.

"Full employment is a realisable goal. It will not be easy but if all Scotland's agencies, councils and other organisations continue to work in partnership with the Scottish Executive on this front we can build the prosperous, confident, successful Scotland we all want to see."

BACKGROUND
  1. Get into Enterprise online, available at www.getintoenterprise.com, is a Scottish Enterprise led initiative and will benefit those individuals looking to take major decisions about their future.
  2. Scottish Enterprise and its partner organisations are keen to specifically target women, young people and the long term unemployed. The programme is also aimed at 'at risk' groups, that include homeless people ex offenders and former substance misusers.
  3. The website follows the success of the original Get Into Enterprise programme, introduced last ear which has already succeeded in bringing 5000 people to the stage where they can access new opportunities.

News Release: SE3090/2000
30 Nov 2000

Page updated: Monday, July 30, 2007