The number of people enrolling in modern apprenticeships in the retail industry in Scotland has trebled in three years.

Skillsmart Retail, which shapes and certificates UK retail apprenticeships, has said that the number of people applying for the awards has risen from 199 in 2003/4 to 621 in 2006/7.

Ian McAvoy, from Skillsmart Retail, said: "The fact that there are more people taking apprenticeships in Scotland means there are going to be lots more trained young people at supervisory and management level.

"It will produce a new breed of young Scottish managers coming through to satisfy the huge skills demands that we will see - which can only benefit the sector in future years."

The 2005 Leitch Report stated that businesses must do more to raise skill levels in Scotland in order to remain competitive and all industries have been told to raise their game in order to ensure future prosperity.

The rise in apprenticeships will help the industry reach its potential as it gets set to create 16,000 new Scottish jobs by 2014.