Council leads youth employment initiatives
Written by admin on June 25, 2012
Councillor Brian Collins, Depute Leader of the Council, met with Angela Constance MSP, Minister for Youth Employment, on Thursday 21 June 2012. Local employers and young people also participated in the meeting. Topics discussed include the Employer Engagement Initiative, the Council’s Enhanced Modern Apprenticeship programme, and developing work placements in the public sector.
Councillor Collins said, “It’s encouraging to see the Minister for Youth Employment visiting the region and I very much hope that we can work in partnership to develop youth employment initiatives. I’m pleased that I was able to hear the views of employers and young people. Our Council and our community planning partners recognise the need to deliver services that are effective for the residents and businesses of our region. So, I look forward to working with the Dumfries and Galloway Employability Partnership to raise the awareness of chambers of commerce and other business organisations of the support available for youth employment.”
Youth employment initiatives from the Council and its partners include:
Employer Engagement Initiative
This has been developed to make it easier for employers to access opportunities by coordinating all information and advice through a single point of contact, reducing bureaucracy for employers. It links with the national initiative Better Alignment of Scotland’s Employability Services (BASES). The Council will act as the local point of contact through which a range of partner services can be easily accessed, including recruitment services, pre-employment training, in-work training, and grants and funding support and advice.
MA Plus
Over the next 5 years, the Council’s enhanced Modern Apprenticeships programme will provide employment for 250 young people (aged 16 to 19) with a structured training package, leading to a nationally recognised qualification. The jobs will be in a range of occupations identified as future workforce needs for the region. Recruitment will take place in 2012/13, 20123/14 and 2014/15, coinciding with the schools’ summer and Christmas leaver timetable. The first tranche will be advertised in July 2012, with employment starting in September.
Developing work placements in the public sector
Public sector work placements will enhance the employment prospects of young people at a time when this is particularly challenging for them. The number and type of work placements will be increased in a range of public sector organisations, such as the Council, NHS, Police, and Fire and Rescue Service. Access to the work placement opportunities will advertised on websites.
