Apprentices thrive despite education cuts

Strathclyde Tyres is promoting apprenticeships as an alternative route to work for young people struggling to gain access to college courses that would have provided them with the vocational qualification to begin their working life.

Brendan Tracey, managing director of Strathclyde Tyres said: “Our apprenticeships are offered to people aged 16-19, who come to us straight from school. Many of these young people would have gone straight into college. However with the government’s decision to reduce further education spend by £74 million by 2014/15, comes the worry that many of Scotland’s young people might not get the same opportunity that would have been available to them only a few years ago. 

Strathclyde Tyres is a business with an annual turnover of £6 million. The company was established over 20 years ago, and has gone from strength to strength since – a fact that Brendan considers is owed to the company ethos of Investing in people.

“This year we have taken on four boys aged 19 and under. Their modern apprenticeships are funded by us, supplemented by Skills Development Scotland who help with training and paperwork. This means that after two years, these boys will hold a SVQ Level 3 in vehicle maintenance – a recognised qualification they can take anywhere. I want to encourage other businesses to get on board with this scheme.

Strathclyde Tyres’ apprentices undergo extensive automotive coaching with specialists GTG Training, a company with over 40 years’ experience in delivering courses tailored to the industry.