New figures showing that Scotland is on course to exceed the target of 25,000 new modern apprenticeships this year have been welcomed by the area’s MSP.

The figures released by Skills Development Scotland show that, by the end of the third quarter of 2014/15, there were already 19,517 modern apprenticeship starts in Scotland, including 654 in North Ayrshire. Kenneth Gibson MSP said: “These very welcome figures are testament to the SNP Government’s commitment to investing in youth employment – creating almost 100,000 new apprenticeships over the last four years.

“Apprenticeships play a key role in the Scottish Government’s efforts to promote youth employment and these figures are further evidence of the real results being achieved for young people across North Ayrshire – but there is always more to be done. with the full range of economic powers in Scotland’s hands rather than Westminster’s we can do even more to boost youth employment and give local young people the opportunities they deserve.

“This is one of the reasons we need to elect SNP MPs in May who will use their clout to make the case for the ‘extensive’ new powers we were promised to enable us to do even more to support young people into work.” MSP Kenneth Gibson is hosting an Employment Fayre at Barrfields Theatre in Largs on Friday 27 February from 9.30am until 12.30pm.