A funding boost announced yesterday aims to help young people in the islands find work.
Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) was launched in Scotland two years ago and more than 3,500 employers and 100 schools are now involved with the scheme.
Now the Scottish Government has provided £1million to establish DYW regional groups in Orkney, Shetland and the Outer Hebrides.
And funding for the regional groups nationwide will also be extended until 2021.
At the launch event in Orkney, Jamie Hepburn, minister for employability and training, said: “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.”
Orkney will receive a total of £330,000 and the funding has been welcomed by James Stockan, leader of the islands council.
He said “We are already getting children from a young age to think about jobs they might do in the future. From fourth year onwards, there are opportunities for young people to mix education in our secondary schools with work experience, college courses and work placements. The funding will mean that we can build on this firm foundation.”
The award of financial support follows a successful bid made earlier this year by Orkney’s Developing the Young Workforce Regional Group Board.
Stephen Kemp, chairman, said: “We aim to ensure that students are properly guided in terms of their chosen fields of study, careers advice, and work experience to prepare them for their chosen career path when they leave school.”
