The hunt is on for the leading lights of Scotland's workforce, with entrants now being sought for the Scottish Modern Apprenticeship Awards 2006.

Apprentices, training providers, colleges and employers are invited to enter this year's awards in a number of categories.

Sponsored by the Daily Record and the Sunday Mail, this prestigious awards ceremony will take place in the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Edinburgh on Thursday 12 October 2006.

The Scottish Modern Apprenticeship Awards 2006 are a celebration of the high standards being achieved by the many candidates, centres and employers involved with Modern Apprenticeships.

Modern Apprenticeships offer people aged over 16 the chance of paid employment linked with the opportunity to train for jobs at craft, technician and management level.

In Scotland, they are managed by Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, and they offer industry-led training for jobs across all of Scotland's sectors. There are more than 32,000 MAs in training at the moment.

The 2006 awards will showcase those who have demonstrated initiative, enterprise and outstanding commitment to the improvement of skills development for the Scottish economy.

The categories are:

Employers
* Fewer than 50 employees
* 50 - 250 employees
* Over 250 employees

Employee achievement

Training providers

Partnership

Apprentice achievement
* Continued personal development
* Contribution to others
* Overcoming the odds

Outstanding personal achievement

The awards will be presented at a celebration dinner in October. To find out more about the categories and how to enter the awards, visit the website
www.scottish-enterprise.com/modernapprenticeships