Marie McNair MSP praises Hays Travel Clydebank apprentices

An MSP has praised local travel apprentices for their dedication and hard work.

Marie McNair, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, visited Hays Travel in Clydebank as part of Scottish Apprenticeship Week on Friday, March 6, to meet apprentices and hear about their experiences.

During her visit, Ms McNair also presented completion certificates to one of the apprentices.

Co-ordinated by Skills Development Scotland, Scottish Apprenticeship Week aims to showcase the value of apprenticeships as a pathway to develop careers, build businesses and grow the workforce.

Ms McNair said: "I was so pleased to be invited along to Hays Travel this year to meet with their apprentices during Scottish Apprenticeship Week.

"Every year I meet wonderful apprentices whose lives are being transformed by these opportunities.

"Young people are our future, so giving them the chance to build their skill set through apprenticeships really does set them apart.

"Opportunities like this ensure that our future generations get the best start in life and, in turn, they bring the energy and the skills needed to boost our local workforce and economy.

"I will continue to champion our apprentices, and with an SNP Scottish Government, we will always invest in our young people."

Ms McNair's visit comes just after the SNP Scottish Government announced that it is investing £198 million this year to support apprenticeships.

This investment is supporting around 25,500 new Modern Apprenticeships in 2025-26 and more than 39,000 Modern Apprentices currently in training.

It also supports 5000 new Foundation Apprenticeships and more than 1200 new Graduate Apprenticeships.

Jane Schumm, retail director of Hays Travel, said: "Hays Travel supporting the learning and development of young people is something that is close to our hearts.

"We nurture young talent by providing space for our colleagues to grow, widening their career options or opportunities."

Frank Mitchell, chair of Skills Development Scotland, also highlighted the value of apprenticeships.

He said: "Scottish Apprenticeships provide real returns for employers, individuals and the economy.

"People from all backgrounds are gaining meaningful career opportunities through apprenticeships, creating diverse workforces that benefit business and our society.

"At a time when employers are seeing skill shortages all over the country, apprenticeships have never been more important than they are now."