Friday December 2nd 2016
Abi Cairns an Apprentice Engineer from MacTaggart Scott who spoke on the night
Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) Edinburgh, Midlothian and East Lothian, this week celebrated their first year achievements.
DYW, Scotland’s Youth Employment Strategy, sets out the ambition to reduce youth unemployment by 40% by 2021. This laudable ambition requires commitment from young people, business plus schools and colleges.
To achieve this ambition the concept of every young person having the choice of a positive destination following school has been set, whether that be a job, Modern Apprenticeship, college course or training. Building on the success of the Edinburgh Guarantee’s partnership approach to positive destinations from 2011 to date ‘The Guarantee’ has been launched, the region working together to develop our future workforce.
Kenneth Lawrie, Chief Executive, Midlothian Council said:
“Working with our regional DYW group, neighbouring local authorities, the colleges and Skills Development Scotland through The Guarantee delivers broader opportunities for our young people and provides support for businesses who want to get involved. It makes sense to offer one door for young people and business to connect with each other locally and regionally.”
The Guarantee is established as the conduit between young people, education and business in the region, supporting employers to inspire and recruit the future workforce. High engagement between business and schools and colleges is sought to ensure young people are ‘job ready’. To aid this activity DYW have worked in partnership with Skills Development Scotland to develop ‘Marketplace’ the digital tool connecting business with education. Originating in Edinburgh as a simple spreadsheet, Marketplace is now an online tool which makes it quick and easy for business to connect, businesses can offer skills sessions, inspiration events and career insight through Marketplace.
Skills Development Scotland Director of Service Development and Delivery, Neville Prentice, said:
“By working in partnership we have been able to develop Marketplace into a tool that can be used by education and businesses across Edinburgh, Midlothian and East Lothian.
“Marketplace will continue to be developed to benefit more and more young people, employers and the economy across Scotland.”
Jamie Hepburn MSP, Minister for Employability and Training joined the celebration to convey his thoughts on this collaborative approach;
“We want to ensure that young people can identify all opportunities that are open to them in education and the labour market as easily as possible. I am pleased that the DYW Edinburgh Regional Group and Skills Development Scotland have been working in partnership for the last year to create Marketplace, which will help with that relationship between schools and employers.
“I know a lot of work has gone in to the creation of Marketplace and all those involved should be extremely proud of the contribution they’ve made to helping young people succeed.”
Sandy Begbie, Chair of the regional DYW board and Chief People Officer at Standard Life urges business to get involved:
“The recent report published by the Social Mobility Commission underscores how important the objectives of Developing the Young Workforce continue to be in the face of worsening social mobility challenges a whole generation of young people now face. Business has a key role to play in breaking down these barriers and it makes absolute business sense for business and young people to connect. That’s why we’ve been focusing on making it even simpler for that to happen, through a range of initiatives like The Guarantee, which provides a structured mechanism to help young people leaving school gain a more informed view of the world of work. Also the Marketplace, an online platform which provides them with access to information on placements and work inspiration. By providing easier access to the opportunities that could form their next steps – be that employment, further education or training – we’re helping more young people to prosper.”
If you are interested in getting involved in Developing the Young Workforce then contact them on 0131 221 2999, option 9 or email dyw@edinburghchamber.co.uk
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