In her lunchtime briefing earlier this week, the First Minister announced that Developing the Young Workforce has created a national programme for this year’s school leavers in Scotland. The programme is a series of virtual and online experiences which aim to build work related knowledge and skills to enhance young people’s industry readiness and capacity to compete in the labour market.
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 from now 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 cover the skills they need to start their pathway into their preferred sector, 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.
Hilary Roberts, DYW Dundee & Angus Manager said, “We are delighted to support the national DYW Skills Academy. The circumstances we find ourselves in as a result of COVID-19 mean that some young people are leaving school without a plan of moving into employment or further education. This programme will help guide them into a positive destination, and will help prevent the rise of youth unemployment across Scotland.”
For more information and to sign up for the DYW Skills Academy, please visit www.dyw.scot.