Writing in Holyrood, acting chief executive of the Association of Scotland’s Colleges, Howard McKenzie, says that the bursaries would act as an incentive in particular for smaller businesses.

“We advocate the introduction of Business Bursaries, which would increase the incentive for businesses to release employees for study by providing a weekly allowance, in return for each employee released to study. The amount would cover legal minimum pay, travel and equipment, and the fees for those students would be waived.

“We propose that this scheme would run in conjunction with the Modern Apprenticeship programme. The key difference is that in a Modern Apprenticeship, much of the training and assessment is work-based and colleges deliver underpinning knowledge and core skills, with the process being managed by a managing agent. A Business Bursary would enable that training and assessment to take place in college through day release, addressing the issues where micro and small business lack the capacity to manage such affairs.”

McKenzie also calls for the extension of the current College Bursary programme to include advanced students studying HNCs or HNDs.

“This one change would galvanise wider access to individuals re-entering or progressing in the labour market and dramatically increase skills in the economy.”

Colleges have also, McKenzie says, had their provision capped for far too long and need to grow in order to benefit the economy and help young people.

“Scotland’s colleges have had their provision capped and so have not grown in real terms for the past seven years whilst, in that time, the economy has grown by 18 per cent.”

Yet, he pointed out, “too many of my colleague principals report that they turn away as many students as they are able to accept, due to the current restrictions placed on them”.