Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon visited Forth Valley College (FVC) in Falkirk at the beginning of March to launch Scottish Apprenticeship Week (4-8 March).

She met the 19-strong cohort of first-year Modern Apprentices, covering areas such as welding and fabrication, instrumentation, power distribution and mechanical engineering.

FVC now has 30 female Engineering MAs learning their trade at the Falkirk Campus and moves are under way for FVC
to develop a nation-wide contact network for women apprentices in the engineering sector.

Among the female apprentices on hand to show the First Minister around the college’s ‘state of the art’ Falkirk Campus were four apprentices sponsored by the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board.

Ms Sturgeon said: “Creating this network of apprentices who can share their experiences with others will help inspire the next generation. We know that work-based learning delivers for individuals, employers and the Scottish economy.

"Through the network, apprentices are going to have the chance to inspire young people to follow their example and become the apprentices of tomorrow.

“I was very pleased to have the opportunity to launch the network at Forth Valley College, and to see first-hand the excellent work being done to encourage more young women to consider careers in fields such as engineering.”

Chris Claydon, chief executive of the ECITB, said: “Modern apprenticeships are a fantastic route into engineering, and we’re delighted to be supporting these four young apprentices at Forth Valley College.

“They are turning traditional stereotypes on their head by showing that engineering is an attractive and rewarding career path for talented and ambitious young women.”