DYW - Scotland

Investing in Young People: More Important Than Ever

20/3/2025

As businesses across the UK grapple with rising costs, there is growing concern that opportunities for young people entering the workforce may decline. However, investing in young talent is not just an ethical choice – it’s a strategic one. Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) urges businesses to continue supporting young people by equipping them with the skills they need and opening doors to apprenticeships and traineeships.

DYW is also keen to understand how businesses are adapting to financial pressures while continuing to invest in young talent. If your organisation is making strategic decisions to balance costs while supporting workforce development, we want to hear from you.

Addressing Scotland’s Skills Shortages: Inspiring Young People and Building the Workforce of the Future

3/3/2025

Scotland’s employers are facing an increasing challenge: a growing skills shortage across multiple industries, whilst many job seekers struggle to find suitable employment. This mismatch between employer needs and workforce skills requires a proactive approach to bridge the gap. Employers must take a leading role in inspiring young people to develop the necessary skills, aligning these skills with qualifications, and embracing apprenticeships as a way to cultivate a future-ready workforce.

Investing in your future workforce - The Value of Work Placements for Employers

18/2/2025

Work placements are a fantastic way of connecting employers with a diverse future talent pipeline, providing a unique opportunity to ease skills gaps and recruitment pressures whilst enabling school pupils to gain invaluable insights to the world of work.

A significant volume of our DYW conversations with employers focus on talent and skills challenges of the organisation or sector, how there is a struggle with attracting the right applicants or competing against other organisations. This article explores a solution to this; getting involved in work placements for school pupils, the benefits are wide for all involved.

DYW's Next Chapter

30/1/2025

As Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) celebrates its 10-year milestone, itâ€™s also looking forward to the future. DYW has become an integral part of Scotlandâ€™s education and skills landscape, embedding a culture of employer leadership and collaboration that is essential for preparing young people for the workforce.

10 Years of DYW in Edinburgh, Midlothian & East Lothian

16/1/2025

For many years employers have supported young people to prepare for and enter the world of work. Traditional models of work experience span back decades and entry to employment through apprenticeships has been in practice for centuries. With a firm history of this practice and much experience to build on, Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) has ramped up and diversified this collaboration between employers and education over the last 10 years. DYW has become a critical cog in how Scotland delivers Careers Education and prepares young people for the world of work.

Celebrating 10 Years of Developing the Young Workforce

13/1/2025

Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) has spent the last decade transforming how Scotland prepares its young people for the world of work. Through strong employer leadership, the initiative has delivered remarkable achievements despite challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Scottish Careers Week - Shape the Future through Mentoring, Work Placements and More

12/11/2024

Now in its third year, 11th-15th November is Scottish Careers week. Coordinated by Skills Development Scotland, Scottish Careers Week 2024 is a week packed full of in person and online activity that aims to highlight the careers support available to people of all ages across Scotland. The theme for this year is Shape the Future, a message that resonates strongly with the Developing the Young Workforce.

‘Constructing Futures’- Kier Construction

5/11/2024

Kier, City Access Scaffolding and Castle Building Services provide Edinburgh high school pupils with onsite insight to inspire the next generation into construction.

On Friday 4th October 2024, young people from Currie Community High School, joined by pupils from nearby Balerno High School, attended a construction work taster on the site of one of Scotland’s first Passivhaus secondary schools. As well as insight into a range of careers and the different pathways into the construction industry, those who attended gained experience of working on a live construction site.

Heritage Careers Week - Raising Awareness of Roles in the Heritage Sector

31/10/2024

The very first Heritage Careers Week is now underway! Beginning on Monday 28th October, and running right through to the 1st November, DYW is delighted to support the first Heritage Careers Week in Scotland.

Heritage Careers Week is a national, cross-sector week of activity to raise awareness of careers in the historic environment sector and tackle misconceptions. The week’s aims and activity work towards the delivery of the Skills Investment Plan for the Historic Environment, with particular attention to priority 2: ‘Attracting future talent and improving access’. There are three key aims of Heritage Careers Week which are to:

DYW's Academic year in numbers: 2023-2024

16/10/2024

Across Scotland's 32 local authorities, 20 employer-led DYW Regional Groups connect employers with education to prepare young people for the world of work. Supporting this are employer-led boards, made up of over 200 employers and partners across the country, as well as a DYW School Coordinator in every state secondary school in Scotland.

Over the academic year 2023-2024, our 20 regional groups, each with varying demographics and labour markets, made it easier for employers to connect with young people in schools and colleges across Scotland.

Inspiring the Younger Generation to Build a Better Scotland

1/10/2024

Construction is one of the fastest growing, and most varied, sectors in Scotland. Despite this, outdated perceptions of the construction industry often act as a barrier for both employers trying to recruit as well as young people who may miss out on suitable opportunities due to a lack of knowledge of the sector. Developing the Young Workforce is committed to helping employers in the construction industry to connect with young people across Scotland, raising awareness of the vast range of jobs and roles available. After all, every aspect of Scotland’s future in regards to housing, transport and infrastructure, relies on the construction industry.

Construction Work Taster event organised by SCAPE Scotland

Supporting Change with DYW - #ScotClimateWeek

25/9/2024

Since 2016, communities and organisations from across Scotland have come together for Scotland's Climate Week. This year, the focus is on climate action and provides us with the chance to learn more about tackling climate change by sharing ‘Stories for Change’.

At DYW we have a lot to share about the work that goes on through our network to support change and some exciting news on a new competition launch too!

COB Futures Event. Photography by Nate Cleary.

Empowering Young People through Employability Skills Sessions

18/9/2024

Previously, we highlighted conflicting views amongst employers and young people, relating to a shortage of workers versus a lack of opportunities. Diving deeper into the mismatch of perceptions surrounding employment opportunities, we highlight how the ability to articulate soft skills may present as a key barrier to employment for young people, and how employers can be involved to help prepare their future workforce through employability skills sessions.

A Shortage of Workers or Shortage of Jobs? – How to Develop and Connect with your Future Workforce through Career Events

11/9/2024

Whilst many employers report a shortage of workers, young people perceive a lack of job opportunities available to them – suggesting skills gaps and a lack of communication between organisations and young people. Through Developing the Young Workforce, there are many ways for employers to connect with the future workforce – from class talks to workplace visits and more. In this article, however, we will focus on how career events can help you to raise awareness, and encourage young people to consider, roles within your organisation or industry.

Advice to Young People Receiving Results – from the Employers’ Forum

6/8/2024

Operating across twenty regions in Scotland, DYW helps to prepare young people for the world of work. We are employer-led, meaning that industry insight drives our efforts to help all young people in Scotland achieve a positive post-school destination. Today, some of the DYW Employers’ Forum share their advice to inspire and reassure young people receiving their results.

Celebrating Careers and Congratulating Young People who Received their Results

6/8/2024

Congratulations to all young people in Scotland who received their results today! We hope you are feeling positive about the journey that awaits. For those who may be unsure of their next steps, please know that there is #NoWrongPath to success.

Whatever your results and current circumstances, they do not define your future and the path you will take. Whether you plan to go straight into the world of work, volunteer, complete an apprenticeship, or pursue further or higher education, every experience is a stepping stone to something greater.

Inspire and Reassure Young People Receiving their Results – One Week Until #NoWrongPath

30/7/2024

Next week, young people across Scotland will receive their results. We know that choosing a career and finding the next steps can be daunting, so to support young people in doing so, DYW Scotland will run its eighth annual #NoWrongPath campaign on Tuesday 6th August 2024. At DYW Scotland, we believe that there is no wrong path to achieving success. Everyone has their own journey and their own story – some having more chapters than others. This is okay, as every experience contributes to personal and professional development.

#NoWrongPath - Celebrating Diverse Journeys on Scottish Results Day

19/6/2024

The #NoWrongPath campaign offers a message of reassurance to young people in Scotland as they receive their results. By sharing stories of diverse career journeys, the campaign highlights that there is no single "right path" to success. DYW is excited to host the eighth annual #NoWrongPath campaign in support of Scottish Results Day on Tuesday, 6th August 2024.

Influence Young People’s Career Decisions by Engaging with Parents

31/5/2024

The 1st of June celebrates Global Day of Parents - a day declared by the United Nations, to celebrate the central roles that parents, caregivers and family members play in children’s wellbeing and development.

Career conversations with young people start early. From an early age, children talk about who and what they want to be when they grow up, and their interests. Children are open to exploring roles in a world where stereotypes don’t exist, however, as they get older and grow into young people, they get closer to making big decisions that will impact their futures. Throughout their lives, children and young people seek guidance from trusted adults to help guide and support them in decision making. Parents and carers are key to supporting young people in these conversations.

Photo Credit: Julia M Cameron, Pexels

Preparing Young People for a Digital Future - Scottish Digital Literacy Week

16/5/2024

Scottish Digital Literacy Week is a week-long event run by Education Scotland, 13th – 17th May 2024. The week focuses on the use of digital tools, skills and knowledge to bring creative learning and thinking to life in the classroom.

Last year, Skills Development Scotland launched a national Digital Economy Skills Action Plan (DESAP), showing that digital literacy, skills and roles are relevant and essential for all of Scotland’s key industries.

Photography Credit: Cottonbro Studios, Pexels

How is Scotland’s Curriculum Helping Young People Build a Sustainable Society?

22/4/2024

On Earth day 2024, DYW Scotland are celebrating how learning for sustainability is being experienced by young people in schools across the country.

Learning for Sustainability (LfS), is an entitlement for all learners within the curriculum for Excellence. Education Scotland states LfS is an approach to life and learning which enables learners, educators, schools and their wider communities to build a socially-just, sustainable and equitable society. An effective whole school and community approach to LfS brings together global citizenship, sustainable development education and outdoor learning to create coherent, rewarding and transformative learning experiences.

Image of young people taking part in sustainability activity

Photo Credit: Learning for Sustainability (LfS)

Get Started with DYW’s New Employer Webpage and Resources

17/4/2024

DYW Scotland are excited to announce the launch of our new and improved employer webpage. One of DYW’s priorities is to make it easier for employers to connect with young people in schools and colleges across Scotland and now, with the launch of our new employer webpage and resources, it’s easier than ever to discover how you can get involved.

News from Across the Network

3/4/2024

As we enter the first quarter of a new financial year, DYW Scotland would like to celebrate some highlights from across the network over the last few months.

Making Headlines with National Programmes and Work Inspiration
In February, over 300 pupils learned about creative roles in construction, in a session led by Anna Campbell Jones (TV presenter and interior designer), DYW Forth Valley and representatives from other partner organisations.

Get the Critical Skills you need to Adapt, Sustain and Strengthen your Business

6/3/2024

Developing the Young Workforce actively encourages and supports employers to inspire and shape the future workforce through various activities. To celebrate Scottish Apprenticeship Week (4th – 8th March 2024), we will discuss how DYW can help you to identify talent, close skills gaps and diversify your workforce through offering apprenticeships.

Photography Credit: This Is Engineering

Inspiring and Supporting our Next Generation - Santander

13/2/2024

We are delighted to support the Young Persons Guarantee in Scotland. In 2022, we supported over 1100 Young People - mainly through employability skills and industry awareness sessions.

We ensured that, particularly around Moray, all Santander employment opportunities were advertised through the DYW weekly opportunities post. This will be expanded with DYW Glasgow in 2024, as we have a key site there with recruitment plans in a variety of areas.

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