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Opportunities for Young Workforce

Five more regional employer-led groups launched.

Young people across a further five areas of Scotland will benefit from a raft of job opportunities created by local business communities.

As part of the developing Scotland’s young workforce plan, regional groups are being created across the whole of Scotland to help support young people into jobs.

Today’s announcement launching groups in Forth Valley, West Lothian, Dundee and Angus, Inverness and Central Highland and West Highland brings the total number established so far to 14.

Making the announcement on a visit to Forth Valley College, Cabinet Secretary for Fair Work, Skills and Training Roseanna Cunningham said:

“I am delighted today to be launching not just one, but five, Developing Young Workforce regional groups, which is a remarkable milestone in this ground-breaking initiative.

“There is nothing more worthwhile than protecting the future of our young people and the establishment of these employer-led groups across the whole of Scotland really do make a difference.

“Having local business leaders engaged and willing to help shape education and training to meet their own needs and the needs of local young people, creates invaluable opportunities for youth to flourish through gaining employment and learning new skills.

“By linking schools, colleges and employers to address local employment gaps, the groups will help drive youth employment figures up locally - and in turn nationally - and help Scotland continue to be one of the best in Europe when it comes to youth employment.”Jillian Nelson, Chair of the DYW Forth Valley Regional Group and Resource Manager of the Stirling Headquartered Robertson Group said:

“Young people are extremely important to all businesses as they are the next generation of leaders and innovators. No matter how big or small a company is, there’s always a place for a young person. As the first employer-led group of its kind, we are extremely enthusiastic to be working with and supporting our local companies to increase youth employment. 

“At Robertson, we are passionate about our people, that’s why we are committed to developing young talent. 16 per cent of our workforce is aged 16 to 28 and with time and investment, they become excellent ambassadors for both our organisation and industry.”

Notes To Editors

The regional groups will play a key role in the delivery of the aims of Scotland’s Youth employment Strategy – a 40 per cent reduction in youth unemployment by 2021.

We are making positive progress towards our headline target to reduce youth unemployment by 40 per cent by 2021. Over a twelve month period, youth unemployment fell by 10,000 from the strategy’s baseline figure of 52,000 in January to March 2014.

Groups are already established in: Glasgow; North East; Fife; West; Ayrshire; North Highland; Edinburgh, Midlothian and East Lothian; Dumfries and Galloway; and Moray.

The most recent youth employment statistics (Oct-Dec 2015) show that the youth employment level and rate are at their highest Oct-Dec figures since 2006.

In July to September 2015 (latest figures available) – Scotland had the second highest youth employment rate among the EU 28. Scotland (58.2 per cent) was behind the Netherlands at 62 per cent.

 

Channel website: http://www.gov.scot/

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