MORAY BUSINESS LEADERS have become the latest to form a regional group whose aim is to help young people into the workforce.
Funding for the project has been provided by the Scottish Government with Annabelle Ewing MSP, the minister for youth and women’s employment, helping form partnership groups in every Scottish region.
The formation of regional groups to help young people into work was a key recommendation of the Commission for Developing Scotland’s Youth Workforce, with Ms Ewing saying: “These local Developing the Young Workforce Groups will lead a concerted effort to develop Scotland’s young workforce by strengthening regional links between industry and education and training.
“The number of young people unemployed in Scotland is at its lowest level for five years but we are determined to work with employers to ensure that more of our young men and women can secure sustainable and rewarding jobs.
“I am very pleased that Moray is the latest region to launch its Developing the Young Workforce regional group. While there is a considerable amount of good work happening in the area, I share the group’s recognition that much more can be done to support young women and men towards sustainable and rewarding jobs.”
Chair of the new Moray regional group will be Willie Wood, who is the human resources director at Johnstons of Elgin. He said: “As chair of the Moray DYW group I am delighted that funding has been approved. As a group we will be actively pushing initiatives so as industry and education, can, together, develop the young workforce of Moray for the future.”
Ms Ewing added: “Employers will be key to delivering our vision of a world class vocational education system that will open up a wider range of work opportunities to everyone, whatever their background or gender.”