Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) Forth Valley is a new and inspirational organisation which aims to help business, education and training sectors develop a dynamic and cohesive partnership approach to the employment challenges facing young people in this area. At its core, is the aim to significantly reduce youth unemployment and strengthen links between education and business for the benefit of the region’s young people and the local business community. DYW Forth Valley want to hear from business owners and professionals who feel they can help them link with the Scottish Government’s Youth Employment Strategy, to reinvigorate Forth Valley’s young workforce.

There has been a very positive message from business so far - that they want and need to employ young people with the right attitude and willingness to work and learn. DYW Forth Valley’s role is to simplify some of the current systems and make it easier for businesses and schools in the Forth Valley area to work together at an early stage to develop a dynamic and cohesive partnership approach to the employment challenges facing young people in the area; to better prepare young people for the world of work, through better, and more consistent exposure to employers and the workplace throughout their education. This will give them the skills, experiences and qualifications they need to move to positive destinations after school, and make informed choices about the jobs and careers they want to pursue. DYW Forth Valley’s ambitions are to instigate and deliver a programme of activity and support towards the national headline aim of reducing youth unemployment by 40%.

Jen Henderson, DYW Programme Manager said “Businesses are willing to give time and resource to working with schools and Further Education institutes to give pupils a better idea of what opportunities are available to them and a better understanding of the world of work in general. Statistics show that the more contact young people have with business the more likely they are to get a job when they leave education, so that’s our aim. We want to hear from employers, business owners and professionals who feel they can help.”