Ministers are considering raising the age limit for apprenticeships, it emerged yesterday.

Currently there is an upper age limit of 20 for apprenticeships that receive public funds. This is now being looked at, the Scottish Government said.

But any change is likely to be limited to a particular employment sector, rather than being across the board.

The age limit was a major talking point during a government-organised apprenticeship summit on April 28.

A report on the event published yesterday said: "There was almost unanimous agreement among delegates that the biggest barrier to the current recruitment of apprentices was the restriction of public funding to those under 20.

"It was felt that these restrictions impacted on some sectors more than others. Employers in the care sector for example tend to employ more people over the age of 20, many of whom were women-returners to work - as of March 2008, they have not been able to access public funding to support their career development."

Other issues highlighted at the summit included a lack of "accessible" information on help for redundant apprentices.

Education Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: "I am delighted that Scotland's first ever apprenticeship summit was such a success and that we have been able to draw out real areas for action.

"It was important that we heard, first-hand, the suggestions that employers had to improve the apprenticeship programme. I will move quickly on this important issue and I will be able to make announcements in the next few weeks."