A campaign to encourage young women to take up apprenticeships in traditionally male-dominated areas such as engineering and manufacturing has been launched by the First Minister as she marked her 100th day in office.
The You Work, You Learn, You Earn campaign will highlight the range of modern apprenticeship opportunities available in various different fields of work.
Nicola Sturgeon launched the initiative during a visit to healthcare giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) in Irvine, North Ayrshire.
She met with six female apprentices who work in various roles, from laboratory scientists to instrument engineers and manufacturing.
The visit came as Ms Sturgeon reflected on her first 100 days in office, stating she is "proud" of the work of her Government so far.
Labour leader Jim Murphy used the milestone to take the First Minister to task on the running of the health service, stating her report card should read ''must do better, particularly on the NHS''.
Figures show that in 2013/14, 41% of modern apprenticeships were taken up by women and the new campaign will use three female apprentices as role models to inspire others.
The First Minister said: "There are more women in work than ever before but we must continue to ensure they contribute fully to Scotland's economy by opening up job opportunities across the employment spectrum.
"One way of stimulating that growth is by addressing the gender gap in modern apprenticeships.
"For too long certain industries have been dominated by men, but we want to haul down the barriers, real and perceived, that have restricted women from entering these sectors.
"As we embark on the expansion of our successful modern apprenticeship programme, with our commitment to provide 30,000 new opportunities each year by 2020, we need to ensure that more young women are aware of the tremendous opportunities that a modern apprenticeship provides to learn while you earn.
"It is important that our young people see the full range of options available to them - not just those that are traditionally seen as jobs for men or for women."
She added: "I want young women to be inspired to be mechanics, scientists or look at engineering as an employment option.
"This campaign will focus on removing those pre-conceived notions and will encourage young women to follow a career path which excites them."
Ms Sturgeon became Scotland's first female leader with a pledge to build a ''social democratic and socially just'' nation and vowed to lead Scotland's ''most open and accessible'' government.
She says some of her key achievements included appointing the first gender-balanced cabinet in the UK, abolishing the poll tax, launching a consultation on land reform and agreeing the delivery of votes for 16 and 17-year-olds in Scotland.
She said: ''I am very proud of the work myself and my team have done so far - but I am also clear that we have much more to do.
''Everything I have learned over the first 100 days has made me more determined than ever - over the next 100 days and beyond - to make Scotland a better, fairer, more prosperous place for us all to live and work.''
Mr Murphy said: ''We have worse outcomes on A&E than there is in England and there is an emerging crisis in Scotland's A&E departments.
''The SNP are currently letting down NHS staff and NHS patients by the way they are entirely unfocussed on improving the NHS in Scotland.
''So I wish her well, but - must do better on the NHS.''
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