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The DYW Summer Leaver’s Programme 2021 will start on Monday 12th July 2021 and run for 4 weeks, an ideal programme for any young person who has just left school and would like support preparing for the world of work.  wHAT IS ON OFFER?We are offering to help you finalise your CV, gain experience of a virtual mock interview, as well as giving you access to our free 'Life at Work' online modules. CV CHECKS & MOCK INTERVIEWS
If you would like to access any of this support please email your interest to getinvolved@dyw.forthvalley.ac.uk As part of Scotland’s response to COVID-19 economic recovery, the Young Person’s Guarantee was launched in November 2020. It aims to give all young people, aged 16-24 in Scotland, the chance to succeed through the opportunity of a job, apprenticeship, education, training or volunteering. And for employers, it offers help to develop a future pipeline of skills and experience, with young people at the heart of the workforce. Young people bring organisations a wealth of talent, creativity, and enthusiasm, critical now and for future success.  Employers of all sizes and across all sectors can get involved with Young Person’s Guarantee in up to 5 ways:
In Forth Valley, if you are already committed to supporting the development of young people then we would encourage you to sign up to the Young Person's Guarantee and as a team, we aim to be touching base with all of local our partners in the near future to discuss the Young Person's Guarantee and what it means for your business. If you are keen to support the Young Person's Guarantee and have not yet engaged with DYW, please email us at getinvolved@dyw.forthvalley.ac.uk and we will be in touch to support you through the next steps. In the meantime take a look at the below slideshow which may answer some of the initial questions you might have about the Young Person's Guarantee.
Meet Adam Hunter, a Mechanical Engineering Modern Apprentice with Forth Ports in Grangemouth. Adam shares with us why a modern apprenticeship was the next step for him on leaving school and thanks Forth Ports for giving him the chance to gain new skills, achieve additional qualifications and earn while he learns. Click below to hear Adam's story.
Click HERE to find out how to become an apprentice, the careers available and which employers are offering them.
If you are an employer, why don't you show your support for the Young Person's Guarantee and give someone a chance through an apprenticeship. There are over 100 types of apprenticeships available in Scotland, from construction to digital media. Click HERE to find out more about how your business could benefit from an apprentice and what support is available to help you. You can also get in touch with us directly, using the button below, to explore the many ways in which engaging with young people could benefit your business. Please find our latest newsletter below. Click on the image to open a PDF with active links.  Get in touch via the button below to discuss how you can work in partnership with education in Forth Valley. Developing the Young Workforce, in collaboration with industry partners, has created a range of sector specific virtual resources for S1s, S2s and S3s across Scotland initially focusing on the Health, Energy and Food, Drink & Land based sectors. Armed with the suite of New Year First career resources, teachers at Falkirk High School planned and delivered a 3 day inspirational programme of virtual career insight to support their S3 pupils in making positive subject and career choices. Click on the image below to read more about how they inspired their pupils by bringing the world of work into their on line learning and teaching.   It is the intention of the national DYW group to add more sectors throughout the year. If your business would like to be involved in developing a future industry careers resource pack please email us using the button below.
Young People Are Great! shine a spotlight on the young people in your organisation this april.22/2/2021
Developing the Young Workforce are celebrating the achievements and resilience of young people across Scotland through the 'Young People Are Great' campaign. The campaign aims to:
 How to get involved - education & employers
How to get involved - young people
campaign resourcesThe campaign and graphics packs below provide everything you need to get involved.
If you would like support to engage with education or employers across Forth Valley, please contact us by emailing getinvolved@dyw.forthvalley.ac.uk Exploring Careers in the Built EnvironmentProviding impactful activities and input into local communities has always been important to businesses within the Construction industry. Building relationships between business and education provides a way for businesses to forge powerful partnerships that will support and influence young people and their influencers to consider choosing a career in this industry. Build Your Future has been developed by key partners across the supply chain within the Built Environment as a response to Covid restrictions challenging the way business and education have previously engaged. Supported by DYW Forth Valley, this virtual resource is complementary to 'New Year, First Career' and will be launched the week of the 1st March 2021 to coincide with Scottish Apprenticeship Week and in support of International Women's Day which is annually celebrated on 8th March.  Career insight, including films and resources will be hosted on the DYW Scot website, available and relevant to a national audience. Alongside these resources, a toolkit for educators and parents provides guidance on how local content can add value to the national offering, this can be facilitated by schools and/or their DYW regional group. This toolkit can also be used by School Career, Advice & Guidance Advisors as well as parents when supporting young people to make informed decisions relating to options and choices or next steps, post school. A link to the toolkit will be circulated to secondary schools by DYW regional groups prior to the launch week, thereafter all resources will be live on the DYW Scot website. With contributions from over 40 partners including the Scottish Traditional Building Forum, CITB, Construction Scotland Innovation Centre, Scottish Building Standards, Scottish Futures Trust and Historic Environment Scotland amongst other industry contributors, this has been supported by DYW Forth Valley and STEM Development Officer for Stirling Council, Jayne Hamilton, to move to a virtual mode of delivery that will support the continued exposure to industry pathways and opportunities alongside the core learning taking place in schools. Jayne Hamilton, STEM Development Officer for Stirling Council says: “Young people are still facing big choices about which subjects they want to take next year, they are still deciding what the right next step is when they leave school and which sectors the skills they are building will be best utilised and further developed in and it is more important than ever before that we continue to work with business to provide them with insight that will support them to make informed decisions. ‘Build Your Future’ is a suite of resources that provides a structure for educators to engage with, for parents/carers to dip into with their young people and to highlight the range of pathways available within the Built Environment in Scotland.”  DYW has developed a suite of virtual careers resources to support educators, parents and young people across Scotland to learn about different career paths that are available in their areas. These Virtual Careers resources will be officially launched w/c 25th January 2021 and will focus on the three industries in the first instance:    Click the tiles above to open the Educator Toolkit PDFs. Career inspiration films, activities and links, along with other resources and toolkits providing examples of how local content can add value to the national offering, will be hosted on the DYW Scot website.
These resources are ideal for educators to insert into their lessons to work through with their classes and will be available to utilise at anytime meaning that young people and parents can use them to support home learning. It is the intention of DYW to add more industries at later dates throughout the year. Watch this space for DYW Forth Valley's own contribution to the Virtual Careers resources: 'Build Your Future', an inspiring look at the Built Environment with contributions from over 40 regional and national partners. If your business would like to be involved in developing an industry careers resource pack please email us using the button below. Please click on the image to open a PDF with active links.  To get in touch to explore how you can support DYW Forth Valley please email getinvolved@dyw.forthvalley.ac.uk
Last week's #AJobForEverybody campaign saw partners from across Scotland sharing images and sign-posting resources across social media to raise awareness of, and promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Across Forth Valley we brought you blogs from our partners LinkLiving and Dyslexia Scotland and shone the spotlight on how volunteering can help anyone develop their skills. You can revisit these blogs by clicking the images below:    We were delighted that across Forth Valley, a number of our partners were keen to share incredible stories from young people they support to highlight where there is inspiring activity happening and to reinforce that there is indeed #AJobForEverybody.
Below you will find all the case studies that were shared on our social media and DYW Scotland's website and twitter account. Hover over the thumbnail below to find out more or click the image to open the PDF. As our final contribution to #AJobForEverybody, and in conjunction with Forth Valley College's commitment to volunteering, we're collaborating with our Third Sector partners across Forth Valley, Clackmannanshire Third Sector Interface (CTSI), CVS Falkirk and Stirlingshire Voluntary Enterprise (SVE), to shine the spotlight on Volunteering as a way to develop skills. CTSI provide help and support to people living in Clackmannanshire who want advice on running or starting any type of charitable, social enterprise or voluntary group, as well as volunteering and community work. Louise Walker, the Volunteer Development Assistant explains how, following a long period of unemployment from the corporate world and with with no relevant experience of working in the third sector, volunteering paved the way for her to gain her new position. Through her role volunteering with SAMH she was able to develop new skills, network and gain the confidence she needed to succeed in gaining this new role.
Useful Links & resourcesMore information on volunteering across Forth Valley is available via the links below:    Other places you can look to find volunteering opportunities and information in general:      #AJobForEverybody is a DYW campaign promoting and celebrating diversity and inclusion in the workplace. One of the aims of the campaign is to demonstrate that by working on skills development, attitude and approach to life, young people have it within their own control to affect their outcome, whatever their condition or barrier. Dyslexia Scotland is a national organisation, based in Stirling that works to support and empower people with dyslexia to reach their full potential. The Dyslexic Career Journeys video series highlights the life and work experiences of dyslexic Scots. We have shared a small selection of the series below but you can link through to the full series by clicking the button below.
useful links & resourcesDyslexia Scotland's website is loaded with useful resources that can help you think about your options and pathways to employment if you are Dyslexic. From advice to deciding what you want to do, to ideas and opportunities that can help you develop yourself on the way, to practical guidance on job interviews. It's all there. Below is a small selection of some of our favorite resources for young people but we would highly recommend you click the link below and browse through the website yourself.
Click each flyer below to open in full on the Dyslexia Scotland Website.
This week we are supporting the DYW National Equalities Campaign #AJobForEverybody, aimed at employers, parents and young people to promote, illustrate and celebrate diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Everyday this week we will be sharing insight and resources from our partners on our website and social media, starting today with LinkLiving.
LinkLivingLinkLiving is a not-for-profit organisation and a Scottish charity who provide specialist services to support health, well-being, independence and community inclusion. Below Jamie and Michael from the Falkirk team give us some personal insight into their career pathways and explain why supporting this campaign is important to them.
At DYW Forth Valley we have been working in partnership with LinkLiving for a number of years. Watch the two films below introducing you to some amazing young people who have rewritten their own life scripts, our 'Steps to Resilience' stars. DYW Programme Coordinator, Karen Wright then talks us through how the 'Steps to Resilience' programme changes the lives of young people every single day. We are delighted that LinkLiving can offer this unique opportunity to young people in our Falkirk Schools. Watch the films to find out more.
If you or someone you know could benefit from engaging with LinkLiving
please click the button below to find out more. We are delighted to have a feature article in the inspiring autumn edition of 17 Degrees Magazine which showcases the impact of education/employer partnerships. Click the image below to read the full article.  If you've been inspired to engage with education and would like to know more please email getinvolved@dyw.forthvalley.ac.uk
The first organisations to back the £60 million Young Person’s Guarantee have been announced by Economy Secretary Fiona Hyslop. In a collective effort to help young people, the Scottish Government has been joined by SSE, Capgemini, NHS Lothian, Scottish Water and Standard Life Aberdeen in the commitment to ensure everyone aged between 16 and 24 has the opportunity of work, education or training.  The Guarantee aims to give all young people in Scotland the chance to succeed despite the economic impacts of coronavirus (COVID-19) Organisations backing the Guarantee make five pledges to help young people at this critical time:
Economy Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: The pandemic is having a disproportionate economic effect on our young people, reducing job opportunities just as they are starting out on their careers. I am delighted to be launching the Young Person’s Guarantee today to help ensure their prospects are not permanently damaged Sandy Begbie, who led the Edinburgh Guarantee said: “In the spring, I was delighted to be asked to develop a strategy to establish a Young Person Guarantee for all 16 to 24-year-olds in Scotland. The ambition is clear, I want every one person who is unemployed to be given an opportunity for a job, apprenticeship, education, training or volunteering. I strongly believe we must act now and decisively, our young people are an asset and a credit to Scotland.”
background:Further information on the Young Person’s Guarantee is available on the www.youngpersonsguarantee.scot website.
The Young Person’s Guarantee was one of the main recommendations of the Advisory Group on Economic Recovery. The £60 million Young Person’s Guarantee is part of a total of £100 million for employment support and training announced by the Scottish Government to tackle employment challenges. £10 million of this will be used to support a range of measures to recruit and retain apprentices. GIVING EVERY YOUNG PERSON THE CHANCE TO SUCCEEDThe Cabinet Secretary for the Economy, Fiona Hyslop MSP, has announced further details on how the Youth Guarantee will give young people the chance to succeed despite the economic impacts of coronavirus (COVID-19). Today’s announcement has confirmed additional investment for Developing the Young Workforce Regional Groups to support the delivery of the Youth Guarantee including strengthening our offer in the senior phase and ensuring those furthest from the labour market can access the appropriate support.
The Scottish Government’s £60 million support for the guarantee, will ensure every young person has the opportunity of work, education or training, with £10 million additional funding for DYW. An implementation plan written by Sandy Begbie has been published today. The report’s recommendations include:
Rob Woodward, Chair of the Employers’ Forum said: “Today’s announcement gives strong endorsement for the future of DYW and highlights that Scottish Ministers are listening to employers and recognise the valuable insights from across the DYW network. As a network we will respond to this challenge to ensure that young people have the best possible support and preparation for entering the labour market”. “We will work closely with our partners including local authorities, employers and SDS to ensure that this additional investment has the maximum impact. I encourage all employers to support our young people at this difficult time by supporting their local DYW Regional Group” We have lots to share in this term's 'Welcome Newsletter' so please click on the image below to open the full PDF with active links.  Please get in touch via the button below for any advice and guidance or to begin exploring how we can collaborate.  This week we have supported DYW's annual #NoWrongPath campaign. #NoWrongPath is a social media movement which aims to provide inspiration and reassurance to young people receiving their exam results and aims to show young people the options that are available to them and that exams results are not necessarily the key to unlocking future success. This campaign is important every year but this year, amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, it feels even more important to really highlight the breadth of experience and skills that people across Scotland have developed on their career paths. Below we share a selection of those we enjoyed reading and sharing from our local and national partners, on Twitter. You can see more of these posts by searching for #NoWrongPath on twitter. A word on #NoWrongPath comes from Forth Valley College's |
| DYW Skills Academy: Get Industry Ready will be delivered throughout July and August with activities and employability experiences supported by industry that have been designed to combat youth unemployment. Young people can register to take part in the free academy until 12 July. Elements of the course will be open to all school leavers, while some will be targeted directly at those looking to progress into employment and those applying for apprenticeships. |  |
The first week will provide industry insights sessions allowing young people to find out about the key sectors emerging from Covid-19 and the career opportunities available within each. They will find out more about the skills and qualifications needed within industries such as food and drink, health and social care, digital/technology and financial services.
Week two onwards will then cover skills they need to start their pathway into such sectors before courses are given on subjects such as cyber security, customer service, GDPR, health and safety, life at work and resilience in the workplace. Young people will also be given CV feedback from industry professionals and will be given the opportunity to take part in mock interview sessions.
Week two onwards will then cover skills they need to start their pathway into such sectors before courses are given on subjects such as cyber security, customer service, GDPR, health and safety, life at work and resilience in the workplace. Young people will also be given CV feedback from industry professionals and will be given the opportunity to take part in mock interview sessions.
CAN YOUR BUSINESS SUPPORT IN FORTH VALLEY?
Would you and your colleagues welcome the opportunity to lead a virtual mock interview or CV check for a young person, helping them make a more successful transition to the world of work?
You can offer to support one or both experiences, taking place between 10th – 14th August. Mock interviews will take approximately 25 minutes and CV checks approximately 30 minutes. We have created a guide and templates to support you and will facilitate the process too.
Gary Wilson, Chair of DYW Forth Valley Regional Group said: "I am delighted that Nicola Sturgeon has announced this important and further support from the Developing the Young Workforce network. The virtual skills academy for young people across Scotland will help to prepare and support them into employment and apprenticeships throughout the pandemic. Driven locally by the Forth Valley DYW team, these specific initiatives will support young people and their parents to chart a positive course during the summer and allow the DYW team to further support all school leavers. I encourage businesses who can support during week 5 of the programme to contact DYW Forth Valley and pledge their support."
 | Alongside the Skills Academy, a series of Scotland’s Biggest Parents Events will be delivered over four broadcasts with input from a range of experts covering topics such as exams, mental health, apprenticeships, skills development and pathways into industry. The events aim to provide a message of reassurance and optimism to parents and carers at this challenging time. They will also provide information about options and next steps including where parents and young people can go to make informed judgements about their future. |
| To register for DYW Skills Academy: Get Industry Ready please click the icon below.  | To register for Scotland’s Biggest Parents Evening Sessions please click the icon below.  |
Rob Woodward, DYW National Group Chair, said: “I am delighted that today the DYW Regional Group network has set out its package of work that will support school leavers this summer. Driven by industry, these specific initiatives will support young people and their parents to chart a positive course during the summer and DYW will continue to support all of Scotland’s young people.”
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An online portal E-DYW has also been created, it is a One-Stop-Shop for young people, educators, employers, parents/carers. It will include multiple resources from private and public sector bodies to provide support to young people leaving school.
Click the image opposite to find out more. |
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Whether you are an employer, parent/carer, educator or young person we need you to get involved to make this programme a success. Please:
1. Share this blog post to all of your networks and colleagues.
2. Encourage young people and parents/carers to register for the programme and events using the links above.
3. Pledge to support the programme by signing up to support with interviews and CV checks in Week 5 by emailing us on getinvolved@dyw.forthvalley.ac.uk
An ambition of Developing the Young Workforce is that education and employers work closely together to equip all young people with the skills and knowledge they will need to flourish in the world of work. Every partnership will be different and will be developed collaboratively; what matters most is that there is mutual benefit to all of those involved.
Read below how the partnership between INEOS and their local secondary school, Grangemouth High, is inspiring the next generation.
Read below how the partnership between INEOS and their local secondary school, Grangemouth High, is inspiring the next generation.
If you are inspired by what you have read and think your business could partner with a local school or college to help young people realise their potential, then please get in touch to start the conversation.
During the week of the 1st June 2020, across Scotland, DYW showcased Key Worker roles to help young people become more aware of jobs, and the skills and qualities required in these roles. Young people in Scotland are the future of our workforce and we hope that this campaign has inspired them into roles that have proven to be invaluable in supporting us all during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Many of our Industry and Education partners shared profiles of their Key Workers with us; some of which we know, but they have also shared the profiles of Key Workers in roles that go unseen. We hope that this campaign has raised awareness and that young people, their parents/carers and teachers and now more informed of possible career pathways.
Developing the Young Workforce Board member Brett Ingle, General Manager of Macdonald Hotel & Spa, was delighted to support Falkirk High School's DYW week.
Brett, who also works in partnership with teachers and pupils from the school, explains in this short video why young people are critical to the success of his hotel. Brett also highlights the career pathway opportunities, the key skills that are required to be a success in hospitality, as well as giving us an insight into his personal career pathway. We want to thank Brett and his team for their continued support of the young people of Forth Valley
If you would like more information on the Hospitality & Tourism Industry or are interested in any other sectors please have a look at our 'Industry Insider' section of the website.
Next week (1st June) we launch an awareness campaign across Scotland showcasing roles within the key sectors to make young people more aware of the types of jobs involved and what skills/qualities would be required.
We want to tap into the energy of key workers to push this campaign forward and inspire the next generation. The campaign will be promoted across the social media platforms of all 21 DYW Regional Groups and will feature a variety of sectors and job roles. The young people in Scotland are the future of our workforce and we hope that this campaign inspires them into roles that have proven to be invaluable in protecting us all during this time.
This pack contains all the information and resources you will need to get involved.
We want to tap into the energy of key workers to push this campaign forward and inspire the next generation. The campaign will be promoted across the social media platforms of all 21 DYW Regional Groups and will feature a variety of sectors and job roles. The young people in Scotland are the future of our workforce and we hope that this campaign inspires them into roles that have proven to be invaluable in protecting us all during this time.
This pack contains all the information and resources you will need to get involved.
How can my business get involved?
We would be delighted if your business can support this campaign. You can do this is two ways and we have compiled some guidance for you of things you might like to include, below.
Video
Take a short video of yourself talking about your role as a key worker, the skills you use, your career pathway and how young people can follow in your footsteps.
Photo
Using a photograph of yourself in uniform or in your working environment and share what your job is, the skills you use and what makes you proud to be a key worker.
If you would like to take part in the campaign please post your completed video/photo on LinkedIn and/or twitter tagging us @DYW_ForthValley and using the hashtags #DYWKeyWorkers #AJobForEverybody
Video
Take a short video of yourself talking about your role as a key worker, the skills you use, your career pathway and how young people can follow in your footsteps.
Photo
Using a photograph of yourself in uniform or in your working environment and share what your job is, the skills you use and what makes you proud to be a key worker.
If you would like to take part in the campaign please post your completed video/photo on LinkedIn and/or twitter tagging us @DYW_ForthValley and using the hashtags #DYWKeyWorkers #AJobForEverybody
Click image to view guidance
Activities for young people
If you are a teacher or parent you can get involved too. We want to encourage young people in the local area to take part by designing what a key worker in their area looks like or writing a poem.
Activity 1 – Design your own Key Worker
Design what a key worker in your community looks like using either of the templates below. If you don't have a printer simply draw us a picture or use your favourite digital tool. Describe what they do and the qualities and skills they use in their role.
Activity 2 – Write your own key worker poem
Write your own key worker acrostic poem using the template provided.
If you would like to take part in the campaign please post your completed activity on twitter tagging us @DYW_ForthValley and using the hashtags #DYWKeyWorkers #AJobForEverybody
We look forward to seeing your #DYWKeyWorker posts next week and we thank you in advance, not only for supporting this campaign, but for the incredibly important jobs you do to keep the country moving at this challenging time.
The Positive Transitions Programme at Braes High School in Falkirk is transforming the lives of the young people who take part. It is delivered across S3-S5 with direct involvement from the local Community Learning and Development Service (CLD) and industry partners across a number of sectors including Construction, Hospitality, 3rd Sector, Local Authority and Retail.
Pupils benefit from a programme tailored to their specific areas of development and what is unique is that pupils have the opportunity to learn in school, in the wider community and during work place visits and work experience placements.
Robertson Group Partnership:
One significant school/education partnership within Construction has been with Robertson Group, with the unified purpose of offering a unique collaboration that encouraged young people to be immersed in a real working environment that could not be provided by school alone. The programme has been supported by a range of Robertson Group employees and sub-contractors.
Pupils engaged in an enriched and blended learning experience. They had the opportunity to spend time on a live Robertson site one day per week over a six month period. The young people were able to gain tasters of multiple trades by shadowing Robertson employees and sub-contractors, working on a mud kitchen project for a local primary school.
The pupils also had access to educational construction-based activities, providing them with relevant exposure to the construction industry including Health & Safety, transferable skills, further education and career pathways. The alignment of the school’s and Robertson’s values, along with the ongoing support of CLD, has led to a meaningful and successful partnership for all pupils involved.
Pupils who took part were invited to apply for a 5 year, MA Trainee Site Management position, a unique opportunity created by Robertson Central East and Braes pupil Hayley Gill was successful in gaining one of the positions on offer. Haley told us “My experience at Robertson’s has showed me that there are equal opportunities for girls looking for a career in construction” .
All Braes pupils involved in this partnership project gained their Princes Trust Achieve Work Experience Module, allowing them to complete their Princes Trust Achieve National Qualification, were supported to sit their CSCS operative’s certification and achieved a positive destination into the construction industry either through further education at Forth Valley College or gaining employment with a local business.
Pupils benefit from a programme tailored to their specific areas of development and what is unique is that pupils have the opportunity to learn in school, in the wider community and during work place visits and work experience placements.
Robertson Group Partnership:
One significant school/education partnership within Construction has been with Robertson Group, with the unified purpose of offering a unique collaboration that encouraged young people to be immersed in a real working environment that could not be provided by school alone. The programme has been supported by a range of Robertson Group employees and sub-contractors.
Pupils engaged in an enriched and blended learning experience. They had the opportunity to spend time on a live Robertson site one day per week over a six month period. The young people were able to gain tasters of multiple trades by shadowing Robertson employees and sub-contractors, working on a mud kitchen project for a local primary school.
The pupils also had access to educational construction-based activities, providing them with relevant exposure to the construction industry including Health & Safety, transferable skills, further education and career pathways. The alignment of the school’s and Robertson’s values, along with the ongoing support of CLD, has led to a meaningful and successful partnership for all pupils involved.
Pupils who took part were invited to apply for a 5 year, MA Trainee Site Management position, a unique opportunity created by Robertson Central East and Braes pupil Hayley Gill was successful in gaining one of the positions on offer. Haley told us “My experience at Robertson’s has showed me that there are equal opportunities for girls looking for a career in construction” .
All Braes pupils involved in this partnership project gained their Princes Trust Achieve Work Experience Module, allowing them to complete their Princes Trust Achieve National Qualification, were supported to sit their CSCS operative’s certification and achieved a positive destination into the construction industry either through further education at Forth Valley College or gaining employment with a local business.
“Robertson Group has a number of initiatives in place to help safeguard the industry for the next generation, recognising the importance of providing young people with opportunities to develop the skills they need to progress on to employment. The programme with Braes High School was developed to provide pupils with an insight into the construction industry and we were really excited to offer our support to help them explore the industry, identify their interests and talents and learn about the diverse careers available in the built environment sector.”
Lindsey McNaughtan, Robertson Group Community Development Manager – Scotland
"Industry partnerships with a shared purpose offer young people the opportunity to develop and demonstrate skills in ways that would not be possible within a traditional classroom setting. They inspire pupils to unlock and realise their potential, increase their confidence, help them explore careers and think about pathways that they may never have considered."
Gordon Baxter, Community Development Worker, Braes High School
If you are inspired by what you have read and think your business could partner with a local school to help young people realise their potential then please get in touch to start the conversation.
In March (pre-lockdown), 20 partners associated with the construction industry collaborated to produce an event for 70 young women from all Stirling secondary schools, hosted at Bannockburn High School. The event was planned to coincide with International Women’s Day and Scottish Apprenticeship week and raised awareness of the opportunities and career pathways, including apprenticeships, that exist within the industry. This event provided a inspiring female-centric and encouraging environment in which to explore some of the practical skills required by the sector.
We are delighted to present this short film of the event which succeeds in giving a flavour of the excitement and inspiring activities the pupils of Stirling were involved in. The first of its kind, this event received very positive feedback from all participants and facilitators. An evaluation on the impact of the event produced by DYW Forth Valley is available to view here and Stirling City Heritage Trust's Event report can be found here.
“This event has demonstrated the high level of interest by girls in traditional skills and has given them the chance to meet a variety of women who are experts in their field. It was an inspiring and engaging day with excellent feedback. We were delighted to be involved in the delivery of such an innovative and positive event.”
Lindsay Lennie, Trust Manager, Stirling City Heritage Trust
“With 30% of the Construction industry in Scotland aged 50 and over, we know the sector needs new entrants across a wide range of roles. We also know that there is an unconscious bias of the Construction industry amongst young people as being male dominated with historically, approximately only 2% of Modern Apprenticeships within Construction and related sectors in Scotland, being started by women. This event, driven by this dedicated collaboration of industry partners for all of the Secondary schools in Stirling has offered exposure to a range of skills and roles that young people may have never considered. It has provided them with hands-on experiences, contextualised the subjects they study at school and provided them with inspiring insight from strong and talented women currently succeeding within the industry."
Jen Henderson, Programme Manager, DYW Forth Valley
Women in Construction may be one of the last large-scale events DYW Forth Valley will have had the pleasure of working on for some time however, all 21 Regional Groups, we are working hard to respond to the changing circumstances we are all living through, which will undoubtedly drive a change in the way we deliver across Forth Valley. We have already seen a significant shift to virtual resources and interactive engagement from a number of our partners and would invite you to consider if you can support young people in this way moving forward.
Please contact us at getinvolved@dyw.forthvalley.ac.uk
Please contact us at getinvolved@dyw.forthvalley.ac.uk
