The DYW Pledge gives employers the opportunity to support young people as they take their next steps into the world of work, while also helping businesses develop future talent and address skills gaps.

There are lots of ways to get involved, including:

Work placements, mock interviews and school engagement
Apprenticeships and work-based learning opportunities
Supporting inclusive and sustainable employment
Sharing your experience and encouraging other employers to get involved

We want to hear from more of our Pledge partners about their experiences and the difference employer engagement can make.

Want to find out more or get involved?
Email info@dywwest.co.uk

Click here to access The DYW Pledge resources

This month, DYW West was pleased to take part in Renfrewshire Employability Month, with a fantastic range of employers welcoming young people from across the area to experience the world of work.

Throughout the month, pupils took part in employer talks, workplace tours and activities, giving them valuable insight into different industries, career opportunities and the skills needed for the workplace.

A huge thank you to all the employers who supported:

Scottish Leather Group – hosting pupils from St Benedict’s, Gryffe High School and Mary Russell School
Howden – hosting pupils from Renfrew High School

City Gate Construction – hosting pupils from Park Mains High School and Trinity High School

Braehead and GRID – hosting pupils from Paisley Grammar School and Linwood High School

Thank you to all the employers and schools involved for helping to create meaningful opportunities for young people across Renfrewshire.

This month, DXC’s Digital Futures Academy kicked off Year 4 with a coding focused session.

Pupils took part in a range of hands on challenges, including using Morse code, a safe cracker exercise and the final Crack Off challenge to determine the overall winner.

It was a fantastic way to start Year 4, giving pupils the opportunity to develop their coding and problem solving skills.

A big thank you to all the DXC Technology staff involved in delivering the session and supporting the pupils.

Showcase your industry. Inspire the next generation. Get involved in #STEMWest26!

There’s still time for employers to get involved in STEM West 2026, taking place on 16th & 17th November at West College Scotland, Clydebank Campus.

STEM West gives employers the opportunity to showcase their industry, connect with S2–S4 pupils and inspire the next generation of STEM talent.

We’re looking for employers to bring their industry to life through interactive hands on activities.

It’s a great opportunity to raise awareness of your sector and give young people a real insight into STEM careers.

Click here to register

You don’t need to attend both days. Joining us for one day would be fantastic!

Questions? Contact:
📧 jan.mcmahon@dywwest.co.uk

Recently, Scottish Leather Group welcomed pupils from Gryffe High School, St Benedict’s High School and Mary Russell School for talks and tours at their site in Bridge of Weir.

These experiences give young people a valuable insight into the workplace, helping them discover different career pathways and understand the opportunities available within local businesses.

A massive thank you to Rhona and the team at Scottish Leather Group for providing another fantastic experience for our young people and continuing to support the next generation of talent. 

Looking to strengthen your future workforce while making a positive impact on young people?

The DYW Pledge gives employers the opportunity to create meaningful connections with young people through activities such as work experience, apprenticeships, mentoring, industry talks and more!

Benefits of signing the pledge:

✅️ Gain new ideas and insight from a generationally diverse team
✅️ Help with recruitment, retention and succession planning
✅️ Develop and motivate existing staff
✅️ Raise awareness of your industry and organisation

Whatever the size of your organisation, we can support you every step of the way.

Find out more and sign the DYW Pledge today

Clydebank High School and St Peter the Apostle recently had the fantastic opportunity to take part in a talk and tour with CCG.

Pupils were given a guided tour of one of their sites and had the chance to get involved in hands on activities, offering a valuable insight into the construction industry.

It was a great opportunity for young people to explore the world of work and gain first hand experience of a live working environment.

Thank you to CCG for hosting our young people and providing such an engaging and inspiring experience.

This month’s Employer Spotlight is Fleming Construction, nominated by Kirstene Maclennan from Park Mains High School.

Fleming Construction has built a strong partnership with the school, providing work placements and supporting young people’s learning and development. Through this partnership, funding was secured to create a mobile construction hub, giving pupils the opportunity to practise trade skills and build experience for future careers.

This partnership highlights the positive impact employer engagement can have on young people’s futures.

Click here to read more

Our flagship STEM West event will return on the 16th & 17th November 2026 at West College Scotland, Clydebank campus.

The aim of the event is to inspire young people to choose STEM subjects at school and give employers the chance to showcase their company or industry. Last year, we welcomed over 800 pupils from four of our local authorities (West Dunbartonshire, Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire, and Inverclyde) along with more than 50 exhibitors!

If you are an employer interested in showcasing your company and can bring along something interactive or hands on for S2–S4 pupils to engage with over the two days, then we’d love to hear from you. Even if you can only attend one of the days, it would be great to have you involved!

Interested in showcasing at STEM West 2026? Please click here to complete the form

Remember, this isn’t your usual careers event – we’re looking for something hands on and engaging to capture young people’s interest.

If you have any questions, please email:
clarke.speirs@dywwest.co.uk or jan.mcmahon@dywwest.co.uk

This month, we attended Renfrewshire Connect at Paisley Lagoon, where we hosted an exhibitor table and had the chance to speak to employers and organisations from across the region.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by to chat with us.