According to a recent report in the Scottish press, industrialist Jim McColl has highlighted the vital role that apprenticeships can play, as Scotland continues to struggle for the skills it needs to drive its economy forward.

He says his time as an apprentice at Weir Pumps was crucial to his career development, adding that he continues to benefit from the experience gained as the head of Clyde Blowers Capital, an investment company that specialises in
acquiring engineering businesses with significant growth potential.

Speaking at the new Apprentice Greats initiative, which acknowledges individuals who have used their apprenticeships as a platform for successful careers and made a significant contribution to apprenticeships in Scotland, Mr McColl said: “Because of my apprenticeship and the time I spent on the shopfloor, I am able to get a good feel for what is happening in a business.

“Without that experience, I would not have that level of understanding — one that allowed me to later be a senior consultant with Coopers & Lybrand.”

Mr McColl, who is a member of the Scottish government’s Council of Economic Advisers, emphasised the importance of apprenticeships to the companies Clyde Blowers invests in.

These include the Ferguson Marine shipyard in Port Glasgow, where 40 apprentices have helped to bring down the average employee age.

Moreover, he says nearly a quarter of Ferguson’s apprentices are female, with the firm taking steps to encourage more young women to consider careers in engineering.

However, Mr McColl fears that Scotland is not currently producing enough skilled people for technical and engineering roles.

“There is more focus on sending people to university, yet we are lacking the skills offered by the technician type of person.

“There are some really high-quality jobs available, but there is a lack of people to fill them.

“Perhaps some are being filled by graduates, but they won’t necessarily have had the training and personal development that can be gained through an apprenticeship.”