Workforce blueprint published
3 Jun 2014 03:33 PM
Wood report seeks 40 per cent reduction in youth
unemployment by 2020.
The
final report by the group tasked with helping Scotland develop a world class
system of vocational education and training has been welcomed by the Scottish
Government.
Cabinet Secretary for Training, Youth and Women’s
Employment Angela Constance joined Sir Ian Wood, fellow members of the
Commission for Developing Scotland’s Young Workforce and representatives
from COSLA, at an Edinburgh school to mark the publication. Its recommendations
include:
- Youth unemployment should be reduced by 40 per
cent
- Enhanced careers education in Primary
School
- The
opportunity to prepare for a Modern Apprenticeship (MA) in the senior phase of
school
- More support for employers to take on young
employees
- Closer links between employers and schools and
colleges
- Measures to improve gender balance in
training
- Measures to remove barriers for young disabled people,
care leavers and black and minority ethnic groups taking up training
opportunities.
The
Scottish Government will respond formally to the report in the coming weeks,
with £12 million budget consequentials already set aside for youth
employment.
Speaking at Craigroyston Community High School Ms
Constance said:
“Today’s report sets out recommendations to
deliver a 40 per cent reduction in youth unemployment by 2020 and a challenging
programme to transform the way we work with young people, employers, schools
and colleges to ensure that all our young women and men have the choices and
opportunities they need to fulfil their potential.
“Our young people are an enormous asset in helping
us to achieve our aspiration to strengthen Scotland’s
economy.
“Our ambitions to see significant improvements in
our youth employment numbers go beyond a return to pre-recession levels when,
during a period of growth, youth unemployment stood 7.7 percentage points above
that of the general population.
“A substantial amount of activity to help young
women and men towards employment is already in place, including our very
successful Modern Apprenticeship programme, which has seen over 77,000 new
opportunities in the last three years. Opportunities for All also guarantees
every 16 to 19 year old the offer of a place in education or
training.
“The £12 million we announced earlier this
year will help accelerate progress, and we will discuss with our partners in
local government how best that is deployed.
“I would like to thank Sir Ian, members of the
Commission and all those who have contributed to this landmark report which
both matches the scale of our ambition and clearly sets out the challenges we
face in delivering it.
“There is now much to consider and we will work
closely with the public, private and third sectors on how the recommendations
could be taken forward. Our partners in local government have a pivotal role to
play in tackling youth unemployment and will be very much part of this work
going forward.”
Minister for Learning Alasdair Allan
added:
“Curriculum for Excellence has been designed to
equip our young people with the skills they need to succeed both in Scotland
and in the global workplace, with local authorities having the freedom to shape
education to meet the needs of our pupils, whatever their
background.
“In order to truly give every young person the
best possible chance of finding a sustainable career we need world class
vocational education and training, allowing schools and colleges to join up
with employers so that learning can be even more aligned to student
needs.
“Today’s report builds on the steps we have
already taken and I look forward to considering with our key stakeholders how
it could make the difference we seek.”
Cllr Douglas Chapman, COSLA Spokesperson for Children
and Young People added:
“This landmark report today by the Commission for
Developing Scotland’s Young Workforce comes at a time of great change for
Scotland. Whatever happens in September we have already embarked upon a decade
long journey of renewal in education as a result of Curriculum for Excellence.
The report today by the Commission in many ways represents the next steps that
we need to take if we are to have a first class system of vocational learning
in schools alongside the more established route to academic
success.
“The report recognises the crucial role that our
schools and teachers in local authorities across the length and breadth of the
country can play at expanding pupil’s knowledge about the world of work
and the job opportunities that are out there.
“The report’s recommendations are ambitious
and transformational but in no way unachievable. This is because a key strength
is that the recommendations are based, in part, on existing good practice which
has been developed by local authorities, colleges and
partners”
“We look forward to considering the report in more
depth with Government in order to work together to progress the
recommendations, as it is essential not only to support but also inspire young
people with new opportunities to develop long-term rewarding
careers.”
The final Commission report
and supporting documents.
An
audio clip of the Cabinet Secretary for Training, Youth and Women's
Employment Angela Constance and Sir Ian Wood is avilable here.