Scotland announces major investment in youth employment

Young people looking to enter the workforce will benefit from £70m of investment from the Scottish government.

The funding will benefit the Young Person’s Guarantee scheme, which aims to protect people from the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic by offering every 16–24-year-old in Scotland the opportunity of a job, apprenticeship, further or higher education, training programme, or volunteering experience.

The new £70m investment will include £45m for local partnerships to provide training, employer recruitment incentives, and mental health interventions for young people, and £13.5m for colleges, universities and the Scottish Funding Council to provide industry-focused courses.

It will also provide £10m for the roll-out of new school coordinators and enhanced school provision to support young people to access education, work and training, and £1.5m to increase places on volunteering and third sector programmes.

First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, said: ‘We know that young people have been badly affected by the pandemic and we are determined to do everything we can to support them. The Young Person’s Guarantee is a vital part of that support which aims to give all young people the chance to succeed despite the economic impacts of COVID-19.

‘This investment of £70 million, which meets four of our 100 days commitments, will also ensure employers continue to benefit from the fresh talent and new perspectives that young people bring to workplaces across Scotland.’

Since the scheme’s launch in November 2020, funding has been committed to create up to 18,000 training, job and apprenticeship opportunities for young people.

Sandy Begbie, chair of the Young Person’s Guarantee Implementation Group, said: ‘Inclusion was at the core of the Young Person’s Guarantee so I am particularly pleased by the increased opportunities created for young people who are furthest from the workplace.

‘None of this could have been achieved without employers being engaged and I am delighted we have almost 100 employers and business groups signed up supporting the scheme. Our young people, who have been disproportionately impacted as a result of the pandemic, are an asset to Scotland and it has never been more important that we deliver against the Young Person’s Guarantee.’

In related news, a new youth employment hub is open to Brighton & Hove residents under the age of 25, to support them in reaching education, employment, and training goals.

Photo by Green Chameleon