WIREDGOV

£6.5 million to help local authorities ensure young people are ready for work.

Additional funding to help develop a world class vocational education system that supports joint working between employers, schools, and colleges is to be made available.

The announcement was made by Cabinet Secretary for Fair Work, Skills and Training Roseanna Cunningham ahead of the publication of the Scottish Government’s new youth employment strategy, which will set out plans for implementing the recommendations of the report by the Commission for Developing Scotland’s Young Workforce.

Local authorities will share £6.5 million in 2014/15 to develop vocational and employment pathways open to all young people, strengthen links between schools and employers, and help vulnerable groups towards the labour market.

Ms Cunningham said:

“Since the publication of the Commission’s report earlier this year, working closely with our partners, we have made significant progress in planning for a system of vocational education that is better equipped to help more young women and men into work.

“From a total £12 million made available this year, we have already invested £5.5 million in taking forward elements of the report. Pilots for foundation and advanced apprenticeships are already underway, and interest among employers in the new Investors in Young People accolade is steadily building. I will shortly outline in full how the Scottish Government will work with its partners to implement the report’s recommendations.

“Scotland’s local authorities are a central part of this process and I am delighted to be able to provide £6.5 million to maintain momentum at a local level, enabling schools to work more closely with colleges and employers. This approach will build on Curriculum for Excellence, benefiting children from early years onwards, developing their understanding of and skills for work and opening up high quality vocational pathways in their senior phase. That way, they will be better prepared to progress into sustained high quality employment.

“With this investment, pupils, parents and teachers will be supported to better understand the careers and routes open to young people and see opportunities in areas like science and engineering enhanced. Local authorities will also have a responsibility to ensure different routes are open to everyone, including those from vulnerable groups.

“We will not settle for a return to pre-recession levels of joblessness in young people, and the full extent of our ambition will become clear in the coming days with the publication of our new youth employment strategy.”

Notes To Editors

The Scottish Government and local authorities have agreed a package of £6.5 million in 2014/15 to support local government’s contribution to the early implementation of the Commission’s report. As authorities are at different stages of developing their specific proposals, the deployment of funding from this package will necessarily vary from council to council. This reflects the ambition of local authorities to develop pathways for young people into sustained and quality jobs that aligns with local circumstances and labour markets.

Within the context of such tailored local responses, all authorities will be considering their response to the key elements of the programme. These are: schools, including broad general education and senior phase, colleges, apprenticeships and employer engagement. The funding will support local government’s role in:

• developing vocational and employment pathways for young people
• taking the practical steps necessary to enhance STEM opportunities and training 
• helping teachers and their partners engage with parents and carers on the new opportunities they will offer
• reviewing work experience to make it relevant to the needs of young people and local labour markets
• working with partners – including colleges and SDS - on all aspects of Modern Apprenticeships
• strengthening links between schools and local employers
• tackling inequality by ensuring that opportunities are open to all and that vulnerable groups are supported into positive destinations.