The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.
All Official Reports of meetings in the Debating Chamber of the Scottish Parliament.
All Official Reports of public meetings of committees.
Displaying 1830 contributions
Education, Children and Young People Committee
Meeting date: 8 December 2021
Stephen Kerr
My second question was whether your members think that they are getting value for money. Based on the fact that they pay a double levy, what is the answer? I had better not lead the witness. Do they get value for money?
Education, Children and Young People Committee
Meeting date: 8 December 2021
Stephen Kerr
Paul Mitchell began to give us an answer to that in responding to Ross Greer’s questions. Everyone knows that businesses have to invest in people—there is no contention there—but what policy changes would SBF members like, specifically around value for money for the apprenticeship levy?
11:00Education, Children and Young People Committee
Meeting date: 8 December 2021
Stephen Kerr
We would welcome any further evidence from you or Leon Thompson regarding specifics from your members in relation to the question that I asked. I am thinking in particular of policy changes that would generate value around the apprenticeship levy that your members pay.
Colleges have been mentioned quite a few times. I am very much aware, as I am sure my colleagues are, of the excellent work that is done in the college sector in support of apprenticeships. However, there is one area that I am always concerned about. How committed are our universities to supporting apprenticeships? I have a question in my head about that, to be honest.
Do you have any reflections on that, Leon? What is your engagement with the university sector like? Do you get much comeback from the universities? What are you talking to them about, and what are they doing for you?
Education, Children and Young People Committee
Meeting date: 8 December 2021
Stephen Kerr
What about undergraduates who are going to become graduate apprentices? Someone can do an apprenticeship with no direct connection with a higher education partner. Is there a demand in hospitality for the kind of relationship that, as I envisage it, ought to exist between business and universities?
Education, Children and Young People Committee
Meeting date: 8 December 2021
Stephen Kerr
I put the same questions to Paul Mitchell. Do you have any comments?
Education, Children and Young People Committee
Meeting date: 8 December 2021
Stephen Kerr
Do headteachers have discretion about which employers, if any, get through the front door? Are such decisions entirely for local headteachers?
Education, Children and Young People Committee
Meeting date: 8 December 2021
Stephen Kerr
We will start with questions from Meghan Gallacher, who has just been mentioned.
Education, Children and Young People Committee
Meeting date: 8 December 2021
Stephen Kerr
I ask Michael Marra to come in at this point, as he has a supplementary question.
Education, Children and Young People Committee
Meeting date: 8 December 2021
Stephen Kerr
When was that group convened? When is the first meeting, if it has not yet been held?
Education, Children and Young People Committee
Meeting date: 8 December 2021
Stephen Kerr
I will bring in Karen Meechan at the mention of the digital critical friends programme. Would you like to make some comments in that area?