Our first ever employer spotlight employer is Scottish Fire & Rescue Service, nominated by Carla, School Coordinator at Clydebank High School.

Carla said that "SFRS offered our Young People within WDC an opportunity to experience a Firefighter For  Day FFAD offers young people a unique chance to step into the role of a firefighter  and experience the challenge, teamwork and responsibility that come with the job. Delivered by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service across West Dunbartonshire, this one-day programme is designed to be enjoyable, informative and confidence-building for all participants."

This fantastic initiative highlights the impact employers can have in inspiring and engaging young people through meaningful, real-world experiences.

Know an employer making a difference?
We’d love to hear from you. Get in touch at info@dywwest.co.uk

We're inviting employers to take part in our Employer Takeover Campaign across our socials.

This is a great opportunity to showcase your organisation, highlight career pathways and inspire young people by sharing real insights into your industry.

We're looking to film short, engaging video content with apprentices/staff.

Ideas include:
Behind the scenes or day in the life clips
Role spotlights 
Quick Q&As
Myth-busting your industry
Career pathway tips

If you're interested in taking part then please email info@dywwest.co.uk.

Click here to watch our employer takeovers

Running from 11 May - 5 June, The Fiver Challenge, supported by HSBC UK, is a free, national enterprise programme that teachers can run with pupils aged 5–11 to build confidence, creativity and essential life skills, with the chance for schools to win up to £1,000 through competitions running across the four weeks.

Pupils receive £5 and create and run their own microbusiness, gaining hands-on experience in planning, budgeting, marketing and selling. Teachers are supported with flexible and free, ready-to-use downloadable resources that link across the curriculum. The programme is also mapped against the Skills Builder Universal Framework and accredited to Impact Level 3.

To find out more or register, visit www.fiverchallenge.org.uk or contact david.stewart@y-e.org.uk

Another successful three weeks of the GROW programme, featuring a diverse range of engaging sessions delivered by a fantastic mix of employers.

Host employers and participating schools included:

Centrica – Knightswood Secondary
Fare Share - St Peter the Apostle
Opos Ltd - Inverclyde Academy
Barrhead Housing - St Lukes High School
Cloch Housing - Inverclyde Academy
Terumo Aortic - St Lukes High School
NRS - St Columbas High School
BAE Systems - Linwood HS
SFRS -Knightswood Secondary
Morgan Stanley - SPTA
DXC - Knightswood Secondary
Arnold Clark - SPTA
The Wyllieum - Inverclyde Academy
Opos Ltd - St Lukes
Beacon Arts - St Columbas HS
Easterhouse Sports Centre - Linwood HS
 
We appreciate the continued support and commitment from all participating schools and employers.

Diodes Incorporated is hosting an Apprentice Open Evening on 23rd April at their site in Greenock.

The event offers a chance to gain insight into working in the industry, with opportunities to speak to current apprentices and take part in interactive workshops.

Attendees can also learn more about upcoming opportunities, as the company is currently recruiting for its 2026 apprenticeship intake, with six roles available.

Further details on how to attend and apply can be found on the event flyers below.

West College Scotland is hosting an Open Day at their Greenock Campus on Tuesday 9th June.

Join them to explore courses, meet staff, and get a feel for student life!

Click here to register

Join us at All-Energy 2026 for an exciting and interactive school visit, where pupils (ages 12-15) will explore the world of renewable energy, innovation and sustainability. This unique experience will inspire young minds, introduce future career opportunities, and showcase cutting-edge technologies shaping a net-zero future.

This is an inspiring day for pupils to explore:

Renewable energy innovations
Hands-on skills activities
Future career opportunities
Expert talks and networking

Please note All-Energy have offered to help with travel costs (terms and conditions apply).

Please contact dyw@glasgowchamberofcommerce.com if you are interested.

Click here for more information

Eastwood High School is inviting businesses and professionals to take part in their upcoming S3 Industry Masterclass event, designed to give young people valuable insight into different careers and industries.
This event offers S3 pupils the chance to experience interactive, hands-on sessions that help develop their skills for life and work.

They are currently looking for volunteers to deliver workshops, with previous examples including:

Makeup masterclasses, “Day in the life” career sessions, Mocktail or barista workshops, Influencer and digital careers, Musical theatre, Cybersecurity, Enterprise-style challenges (e.g. Dragon’s Den).

Event Details
Date: Wednesday 20 May 2026
Time: 8:45am – 12:20pm
Session 1: 8:45am – 10:25am
Session 2: 10:40am – 12:20pm (repeat session with a different group)
Location: Eastwood High School, Newton Mearns, Glasgow

Get Involved
If you're interested in delivering a session, please:
RSVP by Monday 27th April
Provide a short description of your workshop
Share any requirements needed to run your session.

For more information or to get involved, please contact: brownb@eastwood.e-renfrew.sch.uk

We celebrated our 10 year anniversary at NMIS!

The event brought together partners, employers and educators to reflect on a decade of supporting young people across the West. We were welcomed by our fantastic DYW Ambassador pupils from St Benedict’s High School, with musical entertainment from Park Mains High School, and catering provided by West College Scotland.

Our Chair, Jim Hannigan, opened the event, followed by a showcase video, highlights from the DXC Digital Futures Academy, and impact updates from our four local authority areas:

• Renfrewshire Council
• East Renfrewshire Council
• Inverclyde Council
• West Dunbartonshire Council

We also heard about the continued success of the GROW programme, with closing remarks from our Deputy Chair and Young Scot Chair, Elma Murray.

It was fantastic to see such positive feedback both on the day and online.

Thank you to our Board, partners, local authorities, the Scottish Government, and the many employers who continue to support our work, together, we are making a real difference for young people.

A special mention to Andrew from Park Mains High School for an impromptu Irish dancing performance to mark St Patrick's Day

As part of March's DXC Digital Futures Academy, students stepped into the role of Innovation Designers, taking on a Dragon’s Den style challenge to transform the fan experience at Hampden Park.

Working in teams, they explored real fan needs, from accessibility to engagement and created innovative tech solutions like apps, AR experiences, and smart services.