DYW school coordinators launch Young Person’s Guarantee in Inverness and Highlands – bringing businesses together with educators to benefit next generation
Secondary schools across Inverness and the central Highlands are benefiting from closer ties to industry leaders as businesses sign up to the Young Person’s Guarantee to provide vital employability skills and training to the region’s young people.
Developing the Young Workforce Inverness & Central Highlands’ (DYWICH) school coordinators have facilitated the links between educators and business professionals, who have pledged to provide new work and training opportunities for young people in the Highlands.
Sandra McCaughey, DYWICH interim programme manager, said: “The Young Person’s Guarantee is a valuable tool to bring school pupils and industry leaders together to create new learning and employment opportunities.
“Our school coordinators across the region are working with business from a range of sectors – from construction to social care, hospitality to energy – in order to provide new and innovating routes into the world of work.
“By working together, we can nurture the next generation of talent in Inverness and the central Highlands, provide career inspiration and real-world work placements, and ensure the future success of the Highland economy.”
Fourteen secondary schools across the region have teamed up with DYWICH coordinators to support the Young Person’s Guarantee. The schools have all recently held events to bring young people and the world of work together, with representatives from a diverse range of businesses – including Am Bothan, Aquascot, SSE, Fuel 10K, Highlife Highland, Eilean Dubh Care Home, Loch Insh Outdoor Centre, Morrison Construction, Green Hive, and Tom Nelson Stonework – meeting pupils to share their knowledge and expertise.
The local team of DYWICH school coordinators includes Ashley Woodhouse (Glen Urquhart High School and Fortrose Academy); Brian Philips (Charleston Academy and Inverness High School); Dawn Gillies (Culloden Academy); Debbie Khadi (Nairn Academy, Kingussie High School and Grantown Grammar School); Rachael Kennedy (Millburn Academy); Tamara Laing (Inverness Royal Academy); Kirsty Hunter (Alness and Invergordon Academies); Sarah McLenan (Dingwall Academy); and Wendy Hennem (Tain Royal Academy).
Each school coordinator will work with local businesses to help foster new relationships between educators and business leaders to help providing training, advice and opportunities for young people in the world of work. Organisations can pledge their support by signing up for the Young Person’s Guarantee – a national scheme which allows businesses to formally declare their intention to support the workforce of the future.
Businesses interested in signing up for the Young Person’s Guarantee can find out more at www.dywich.co.uk where they will be able to find contact details for their local school coordinator.
Developing the Young Workforce Inverness & Central Highland is part of a national framework of regional employer-led boards across Scotland. Formed as part of the Scottish Government’s youth employment strategy, and hosted by Inverness Chamber of Commerce, the group’s aim is to develop sustainable links between schools, colleges and employers. Working in partnership with employers, DYW Inverness & Central Highland is shaping the workforce of the future and helping to better prepare young people for the world of work.
For more information, visit www.dywich.co.uk or follow DYWICH on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
