Published to coincide with this year’s Scottish Apprenticeship Week, the figures show this is the highest number of apprentices registered in the Scottish construction industry since 2009 but remains 36% or almost 1,000 apprentices fewer than the record number of 2,758 building apprentices registered in Scotland in 2007, prior to the economic recession.

Vaughan Hart, managing director of the Scottish Building Federation, who is also Employers’ Secretary on the SBATC Council, said: “We’re very encouraged that the number of building apprentices registered in Scotland rose again last year. The number of newly recruited apprentices to our industry has now reached a seven year high. Particularly positive was the fact that virtually all of the growth in apprentice numbers during 2016 came from the traditional craft trades such as bricklaying, stonemasonry, carpentry and joinery.”

Vaughan Hart added: “As apprentice numbers continue to recover, it is important that we ensure an appropriate balance between the quantity and quality of apprentices being delivered in the construction sector. As an organisation, we will continue to work hard to maintain that balance and to ensure that Scottish construction apprenticeships deliver the skills our industry requires and meet the needs of industry employers.”