A scheme to help young people and employers in Orkney, Shetland and the Outer Hebrides in preparing for work has been given a £1million investment boost by the Scottish Government. The funding will be used to establish  Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) Regional Groups. This completes the 21 groups set up throughout Scotland with funding guaranteed to 2021.

Stephen Kemp from Orkney Builders, one of the founders of the DYW group in Orkney, said:

“It’s great to be part of an employer-led initiative that will enable us to proactively engage with young people at a suitably early stage.  We will aim to ensure that students are properly guided in terms of their chosen fields of study, careers advice, and work experience with the aim being to properly prepare them for their chosen career path when they leave school.”

Developing the Young Workforce (Photo Scot Gov)

More than 3,500 employers and 100 schools have already engaged with the programme since it was launched in 2015.

Minister for Employability and Training in the Scottish Government Jamie Hepburn, speaking at the launch event in Orkney, said:

“I’m delighted to announce this £1 million investment. Expanding the DYW network, along with our commitment to fund the groups until 2021, provides the certainty and reach to support employers and educators willing to work together for the benefit of young people across Scotland.”

“Youth unemployment in Scotland is below the UK average, and is the fourth lowest in the EU. We have also seen a record number of school leavers from our most deprived communities continue their education and training, but we cannot afford to be complacent. That is why I have announced this new investment for the islands, as well as our extended commitment to the national programme.”