A Highland student has won a coveted placement with a marketing company after developing a creative plan to tackle youth unemployment.
Gary Miller, 30, from Conon Bridge, who is studying at the University of the Highlands and Islands, was awarded the first prize in the Developing Young Workforce (DYW) competition.
The DYW programme was launched by the Scottish Government in 2016 to help prepare young people for work before they leave school.
Competition organisers said the judges were “simply blown away” by Mr Miller’s level of creativity, research, insight and understanding of a “hugely complex” issue.
The judges included principal of Inverness College UHI, Chris O’Neil, Inverness President of the Highlands and Islands Student Association, Gabbi Starr, and Andy Maxtone and Eilidh Edgar from the Developing Young Workforce programme.
Louise Darnley from local design and marketing agency Dynam, the Inverness firm offering the work placement, was also on hand to give advice on the competition entries.
Mr Miller, a third-year visual communication and design student, said he had set himself a specific aim when coming up with the strategy.
He said: “I found the brief for this project really motivating, especially given that the Highlands are already doing great work in this area.
“My focus was on being inclusive, and making sure that everyone is aware of the opportunities available, whatever their background.”
Although details of the winning concept were not made public, DYW programme manager Andy Maxtone described it as “cleverly designed” aimed at engaging young people, their parents and employers.
He said: “Gary’s concept not only appeals visually, but is born out of deep-rooted insights and an understanding of our role in promoting Scotland’s youth employment strategy.”
