The Scottish Government have announced that more than 16,000 young people have been offered work opportunities through their Young Person’s Guarantee, which aimed to connect 16–24-year-olds with different kinds of work.
With over 600 employers signing up to the initiative, thousands of young people in Scotland have been able to access opportunities that they might not necessarily be able to access without the help of the scheme.
The Young Person’s Guarantee aims to help young people into different forms of work, including apprenticeships, work experience, volunteering, internships, enterprise opportunities, and mentoring.
Sandy Begbie, Young Person’s Guarantee Implementation Group Chair, said:
“From the beginning of the Young Person’s Guarantee I’ve stressed the importance of young people being connected to all available opportunities.
“It is great to see how many employers of all shapes and sizes have demonstrated their support and belief in young people by committing to the Guarantee.
“As representatives of Scotland’s industry and employers it remains crucial, we work together to communicate to young people that although their futures may still seem uncertain, opportunities are out there and continue to grow.”
The Scottish Government is investing up to £45 million into the Young Person’s Guarantee throughout 2022-23, as it looks to continue its commitment to supporting young people.
Jamie Hepburn, Youth Employment Minister, went along to meet young people working for a construction company responsible for the delivery of a new £60 million health and care centre in Parkhead, Glasgow:
“It has been hugely encouraging to see the important role these young people are playing in the construction of this new health centre which will be a vital community asset in the east end of Glasgow for decades to come.
“I would like to thank all employers signed up to the Young Person’s Guarantee, for the opportunity they are helping to give our 16-24-year-olds. This will play a key part in our economic recovery.
“With results day just a couple of weeks way, it’s important for young people to realise there are a number of routes into the workplace.
“Our Developing Young Workforce co-ordinators will continue working across secondary schools in Scotland to link people with local employers, while the introduction of the free bus pass and job grant are also aimed at helping young people into positive destinations.”
The Scottish Government also announced that the number of young people in work increased by more than 15,000 last year, with Scotland’s youth employment rate being higher than the UK-wide figure. With the UK Government push on increasing opportunities and increasing prosperity, investment, and development, this can only benefit Scotland and the wider UK as we emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic and look to tackle current issues with the cost-of-living and energy price rises.
