Lloyds Banking Group says it is creating 150 new apprenticeships in Scotland including 45 new training posts in Tayside and Fife.
The part-taxpayer-owned bank said the bulk of the new roles including 30 in Dundee and a further 15 in Dunfermline will be added in its telephone banking division.
The remainder of the new posts will be created in group operations and in Bank of Scotland and those opportunities will be spread across the country.
The move came as Scottish Apprenticeship Week began in earnest.
Robin Bulloch, deputy chairman of Lloyds Banking Group’s Scottish Executive Committee, said he was delighted the bank was able to offer a helping hand for some young Scots looking for work.
“Building people’s skills and aspirations can make a real impact in tackling youth employment by providing many young people with that crucial first step on the employment ladder.
“Lloyds Banking Group is Scotland’s largest financial services employer and this announcement demonstrates our continuing commitment to invest in Scotland.”
The commitment was welcomed by Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who toured Lloyds’ Atlantic Quay contact centre yesterday.
“We have put in place a guaranteed offer of a place in education or training for every 16 to 19-year-old, as well as £29 million of investment to create thousands of jobs in the third sector over three years for young people through Community Jobs Scotland,” she said.
“The Scottish Government is also investing in locally-delivered employer recruitment incentives to offer financial support to companies willing to invest in our young people and offer them a sustainable job.”
A number of businesses in Courier Country are backing Scottish Apprenticeship Week including GlaxoSmithKline at Montrose, Premier Property Management in Dundee, Young Joinery in Fife and Crieff Hydro in Perthshire as well as national concerns such as ScotRail and British Airways.
Minister for youth employment Angela Constance also kicked off the search for Scotland’s top apprentice of 2013.
Online entries can be completed at www.sds.co.uk/ScotMAAwards.