The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has warned that apprenticeship schemes are to become endangered due to uncertainty regarding the new UK-wide Apprenticeship Levy for training.

FMB Scotland has said that unless the Scottish government makes a commitment to ring fence the new training Levy, then the growth of apprentice schemes in Scotland will rapidly decrease.

In 2015/16 the number of young people being enrolled into apprenticeship schemes surpassed its 25,000 target, with 25,818 apprentices starting.

The Scottish government has pledged to raise the apprenticeship target to 30,000 in the next four years.

In 2015/16, the number of apprentices starting their courses aged 16 to 24 was 79%, while the amount of starters at level three and above went up by 1% to 65%.

More than 30% of Scottish apprenticeship starts were in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) frameworks, while 19% were specifically geared towards learning skills in the construction industry.

59% of apprenticeship starters were men, with 41% women. The figures were published by Skills Development Scotland (SDS).

In response to the statistics, FMB Scotland Director, Gordon Nelson, said that while the rise in apprenticeship numbers makes for positive reading, the employment outcomes and quality of the schemes should be the most important consideration.

He added that there are now concerns that the positive work could be undone if the Scottish government chooses not to re-invest funds raised by the new UK-wide Apprenticeship Levy.

Mr Nelson said that there is a lack of direction from leaders in terms of showing how the Levy will be carried out in Scotland.

The SDS report figures relate to modern apprenticeships that have a funding contribution from the public which has been administered by the SDS for the Scottish government.

The latest ‘State of Trade’ survey by the FMB shows that almost half of SME employers are finding it hard to recruit carpenters, while more than a third are struggling to source plumbers.