Car firm Arnold Clark claims young Scots are 'unsuitable' for work

One of the country's biggest companies, the car firm Arnold Clark, has described many young Scots as "unsuitable" for work.

The comment came in a submission to the Scottish Parliament ahead of a summit on improving employability.

The company's training arm said of 2,280 applicants to its apprenticeship scheme, 81% were not employable.

It described the situation as "desperately sad and thoroughly disheartening".

GTG Training which is owned by Arnold Clark Automobiles outlined a number of recurring themes raised by recruiters after interviews with candidates.

Its report said many candidates had a poor attitude to others and poor communication skills with no concept of citizenship.

Many potential employees were also shocked at the number of hours they were expected to work and the report said "the biggest single issue causing difficulties for the transition from school to employment" was the "discrepancy in working hours".

It said the situation deteriorated when candidates had attended further education and said it was increasingly worried at the "State-sponsored babysitting nature of some college programmes rather than specifically-targeted vocational training for near-guaranteed employment".

The training firm did accept that it was recruiting at the "lower end of the achievement spectrum" but said more could be done and said interventions could be made through the arts or sport and more young people should be encouraged to take part in programmes like the Duke of Edinburgh Awards scheme.

It said there was a "significant role" for Creative Scotland to direct government towards "sensible opportunities" for the public purse.