Scottish Apprenticeship Week returned this year with a bang!

As always, the week of the 2^nd March 2020 was packed with great events, like the Inverclyde Apprenticeship Careers Fair, to celebrate Scotland’s apprenticeships and the work our young apprentices do on a daily basis. For us, we strive to promote the companies who support apprenticeships and the individuals themselves and how an apprenticeship has allowed them to flourish in their careers! This is why we started the We Support Apprenticeships campaign.

We wanted to highlight the companies operating in our four local authorities (West Dunbartonshire, Inverclyde, Renfrewshire & East Renfrewshire) that put their faith in young individuals looking to make a start in their careers by combining practical experience with learning, with the outcome being a well-rounded platform for apprentices to push on with a long and successful career.

Businesses of all sizes took part in the campaign such as Rolls-Royce, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde and Media Monty! We want to extend a big thank you to everyone who took part, you can see the companies and their apprentices in this video!

Here at DYW West, we fully appreciate the issues, concerns and confusion that young people are currently experiencing due to the current situation we are all facing. Whilst this is a very challenging time for the Education sector and all employers, this won’t last forever. 

That’s why we are asking employers to make a pledge to help to support our future #youngworkforce when things return to some normality. We are looking for employers to pledge their support to young people across our region when schools and colleges reopen. We want young people to have the reassurance that they won’t miss out on opportunities due to this unprecedented situation we are all experiencing.

We want them to know that things WILL get back to normal and WHEN they do, there will be opportunities for them across all sectors. We would like you to let us get the message to young people that you will be ready for them when they return! 

Make your #DYWPledge today. 

How to get involved:

Option1: Record and post a video on social media with hashtag #DYWPledge and tag DYW West, briefly talking about your pledge to young people – e.g. apprenticeships still open or been extended / expect to open later in the year / expect work placements to continue later in the year / access and use our online resources etc…

Option2: Or take a photo of you holding the attached template listing high-level details of your pledge(s).

We hope as many employers as possible can support this campaign. Please see below examples of social media copy and a template!

Thank you and we wish all our contacts all the best during this challenging time.

As a result of our host, West College Scotland's’ buildings closing due to the coronavirus on Friday 20th March, the DYW West team will be working from home from the 23rd March for the foreseeable future. We will continue to have access to files, email and be able to use Skype / MS Teams. Our contact details are below. We are also able to receive emails that end @wcs.ac.uk – Please continue to contact us in the normal way (except the office landline), thank you.

We are all able to assist employers, educators and most importantly young people looking to apply for jobs e.g. do online interview prep sessions / sector chats / share our knowledge & experience in a virtual way (as opposed to at careers events / school talks etc.) and are very keen to continue to assist in any way we can. We encourage educators, employers, influencers (parents & families) and young people themselves to follow our social media channels. Thank you – DYW West team

Bob Davidson, Director

bob.davidson@dywwest.co.uk / 07393 826121

Jan McMahon, Programme Exec, West Dun & East Ren

jan.mcmahon@dywwest.co.uk / 07710 715536

Clarke Speirs, Programme Exec, Renfrewshire & Inverclyde

clarke.speirs@dywwest.co.uk / 07710 715535

Dennie Gillespie, Events Exec

dennie.gillespie@dywwest.co.uk / 07568 352502

Fraser Woods, Digital Marketing Exec

fraser.woods@dywwest.co.uk / 07767 676200

General email:   info@dywwest.co.uk

Website:            www.dywwest.co.uk

Facebook:         /DYWWestRegion

Twitter:              @DYWWEST

Instagram:         @DYW_WEST

LinkedIn:            linkedin.com/company/dywwest 

**This free breakfast event is aimed at organisations who may be able to mentor a young person starting Autumn 2020 and offer a paid short summer work placement in 2021 - for young people living in Renfrewshire, Inverclyde or West Dunbartonshire**

Developing the Young Workforce West Regional Group are delighted to support Career Ready as they invite local employers to come along to a breakfast event held 26/2 at West College Scotland, Paisley Campus - to find out more about the work Career Ready do, and see how easy and rewarding it is to get involved in supporting local young people to flourish into the world of work.
 
Date: Feb 26th 2020
Time: 8.30-10am (tea / coffee / breakfast rolls from 8.30am)
Venue: West College Scotland, Abercorn Conference Centre, Room 1, Renfrew Rd, Paisley PA3 4DR

The event will highlight the range of ways you can get involved, the benefits of which include offering businesses a way to develop their people, get them involved in their local community and increase awareness of their brand as an employer.
 
During the morning we will hear from speakers within education, business and local young people about how experiences of the world of work and mentoring have positively impacted them.  There will be the opportunity to gain further insights from one of the team at your table as well as discussing your learnings, interests and fit with your business needs.

To register your free place, please click this link:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/career-ready-breakfast-event-tickets-92732536513

Calling all past and present apprentices!

Are you a current, or past apprentice? Want to share your success story, tell others that university is not the only way and share the benefits of choosing an apprenticeship? Then join Scotland’s Apprentice Network…

How did you secure your role? If an apprenticeship put you on the career path to success, then there are others out there who want to hear your story!

Scotland’s Apprentice Network is looking for people who are currently doing or have done an apprenticeship, to join the Network and share with others the benefits of doing an apprenticeship! The Network has members from all over Scotland and across sectors, to help promote work-based learning through visiting schools and talking to pupils who are about to make their subject choices. This can include:

• talks at assembly
• Q&A classroom sessions
• presenting at parents’ evenings
• talking to school pupils, parents or teachers at other events in schools or elsewhere 

Who can join?

• any apprentice, past or present, based in Scotland from all different sectors and disciplines
• people who are passionate about the benefits of work-based learning and would like to share their experience with others
• people committed to diversity and equality

What’s in it for me?

As a Network member, you will:

• get the opportunity to influence school pupils as a positive role model: this may be younger siblings, pupils in your area, your former school or young people who want to find out how to get into your sector
• share stories and get involved in national campaigns including Scottish Apprenticeship Week and the annual Apprentice Convention
• gain access to key industry/ skills information and leading senior figures in your industry 
• enhance your CV with transferable skills and boost your career progression by being part of your future professional network 
• access continuous professional development (CPD) opportunities – gain valuable, recognised business skills including presentation skills, leadership and more  

So how do I join?

Visit the website and sign up to the Network – it only takes a few minutes. You will need someone to sponsor your application, usually your line manager, mentor or SAAB Member representative, but it can be anyone you work with.

You can also share the sign-up link with colleagues, family or friends who may be interested.

Further information

• Visit www.apprenticeships.scot/network
• Take a look at Scotland’s Apprentice Network video

Hundreds of pupils from across the West Region (Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire, Inverclyde and West Dunbartonshire) ventured to the Clydebank Campus of West College Scotland for STEM West 2019 which is organised by the Scottish Government funded Developing the Young Workforce West regional group (DYW West) in partnership with their host organisation West College Scotland. 600 secondary pupils attended engaging with 40 exhibitors offering information and interactive activities to help inspire them to consider STEM related careers and subject choices at school.

Now in its 3^rd year the annual STEM event (Science Technology Engineering and Maths) attracted a diverse range of employers including NHS GGC, Rolls Royce, BAE Systems, Thales and many others.

Commenting on the event DYW West Director Bob Davidson said, “This is our largest event of the year and I would like to thank the college, the employers & schools for all their support with the event. All of the employers that attend represent sectors identified as having future growth, with many having positions for school leavers now or in the near future such as modern or graduate apprenticeships. It is a great opportunity for young people & teachers to engage with industry in a fun way to learn more about what they could do on leaving school and how STEM subjects can help them, the routes to that job and the skills and qualifications they would need.”

We were delighted to welcome the Minister for Business, Fair Work and Skills, Jamie Hepburn MSP along on the 2^nd day who commented “STEM is an integral part of our future economic and social development, and it is vital that we nurture strong relationships between employers and educational establishments through the Developing the Young Workforce Programme. This event is a wonderful opportunity to do that and for young people to explore the opportunities STEM subjects offer.”

Bob further commented by saying “we are always seeking organisations of all sizes & sectors to get involved with DYW. We can help companies with their workforce planning, future talent pipeline and increasing awareness of their industry & opportunities to young people, teachers and families. Please get in touch with DYW West if you would like to find out more about how together we can help young people better prepare for the world of work”

Once again we'd like to say a massive thank you to everyone who came across both days we couldn't have done it without you! To see images of the event see our social media channels!

On Thursday 17th October, Inver Racers competed against Greenpower teams from all over the world, including the USA, China and Spain as well as Scotland and England. After their successes at East Fortune and Grampian Transport Museum, they had earned their place among the best F24 race teams in the world. 

Inver Racers finished in 76th place out of over 100 teams on the day, and also won the SQN Agency social media award for best use of social platforms across the 2018/19 season. You can see their Twitter page for a great example of why they deserved this award.

Inver Racers have gone from strength to strength on their journey to the International Final. At their first race at East Fortune, they finished first in class (earning them their Silverstone spot) and following this, finished 2nd in class at the Grampian Transport Museum Heat.

To read more about Inver Racers, they were featured in this article from the Greenock Telegraph.

From everyone at DYW West, congratulations Inver Racers on your amazing journey!

This morning, Scotland’s Developing the Young Workforce Programme has been awarded the Future Policy Silver Award 2019 by the World Future Council. The Future Policy Award is the only global award that recognises policies for the benefit of present and future generations.

The DYW programme has been selected among 67 nominated policies from 36 countries. Also known as “Oscar for Best Policies”, the Future Policy Award highlights the world’s most impactful policies which empower youth. The other winning laws and policies come from Rwanda, Estonia, Nepal, Los Angeles (USA), Senegal, South Africa and Europe.

The winners will be awarded on 16^th October during the 141^st Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Belgrade, Serbia at the 2019 Future Policy Award Ceremony, which is organised by the World Future Council, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

This is an amazing achievement for the Developing the Young Workforce Programme. It is also a wonderful accolade for all the partner organisations involved and for those at every level in Scotland who have worked tirelessly to tackle youth unemployment, address inequality and develop new pathways to help young people into positive and sustained destinations. Above all, it recognises the success of young people across Scotland who have strived to overcome barriers to employment and have been empowered to develop skills for learning, life and work and to embrace new opportunities and pathways.

In this video, our Chair, Andrew Bowman, outlines ways in which you could do your part as employers to help young people get more prepared for the world of work. To view the full video, head to our YouTube channel!