A new apprentice trainee scheme to support small trade businesses in Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park has been launched by The National Park Community Partnership.

Ron Dalton, director of the Community Futures Programme, said: “This is a milestone for economic development in the park. We have a fragile rural economy heavily dependant on tourism but we need to retain and improve our infrastructure and we need trained people to do that.

“Many of our trades businesses are one-man bands who find it very difficult to take on an apprentice because of the paperwork and lack of continuity. This project will assist them to overcome the hurdles.”

The first part of the scheme has led to the appointment of a business development officer, John Cunningham, to help enable small companies in the area to employ apprentices.

This will be followed in June 2008 with a taster training course aimed at young people considering taking on an apprenticeship in the park community, with the backing of training grants for both the apprentice and the business.

The scheme is being funded by Scottish Enterprise Forth Valley, Lomond and Rural Stirling Leader and the Park Authority.