SSE has become one of the first companies to become an official Modern Apprenticeship (MA) Ambassador.
The Ambassador programme, launched by Skills Development Scotland, is designed to raise awareness of the benefits of MAs for both apprentices and employers. ACE Winches, BT, British Airways, Selex ES, ScotRail and Scottish Leather Group have also signed up to the scheme.
Damien Yeates, Chief Executive of SDS, said: "These champions have experienced first hand the enormous contribution and tangible benefits that MAs can bring to their business and the ambassadors are seeing their career go from strength to strength as a result of the MA programme.
"They will build on their existing good work in promoting the benefits of the programme at events and in the media across Scotland encouraging more individuals and businesses to get involved."
Gary Hamilton, SSE’s Technical Training Manager added: "Modern Apprenticeships have been a great success at SSE with 188 apprentices successfully graduating in Scotland since 2007.
"We will be encouraging our graduate apprentices to participate by going into the local community to talk about their own positive experiences and raise awareness of the opportunities available."
Youth Employment Minister Angela Constance MSP said: "I have heard countless inspirational stories of young people who have started an apprenticeship and moved into a relevant full time job after completing their qualification.
"However, there is still much more to do to raise awareness of its benefits and the MA Ambassador Programme is a natural next step in building the positive profile of MAs.
"Having businesses on board is very much part of my work to encourage more employers to make young people their business. Other organisations, not yet sold on the benefits an MA could bring, will be able to learn a lot from their experiences.
Picture shows current participants of SSE's Modern Apprenticeship Programme.