In Your Shoes - Developing the Young Workforce Dundee & Angus team

Planning: The Key to Success

Hilary Tasker, DYW Dundee & Angus, the team manager

We are in full planning mode for the year ahead so Hilary’s first job this week was to look at our budget and KPIs for this year. There are 21 regional DYW groups across Scotland who all report into the Scottish Government so this job might not be very exciting but it is important! Our focus this year is on building embedded relationships with businesses and schools and increasing the number of young people involved in work-related activities such as project-based learning in the classroom, work placements, and apprenticeships. As well as looking at the total amount of engagements, this year we will specifically be looking at numbers from pupils with additional needs, STEM engagements and the gender split of young people taking part in our activities. Plenty of scope for the team to get out and about and build new relationships across Dundee & Angus.

Food, Drink & Apprenticeships

Alison Rowan McEwan, Employer Liaison Advisor

Most of the time the ELAs are out and about at events, visiting schools and meeting with businesses face-to-face but as it’s the Easter holidays things have been slightly less hectic.  Quite a few businesses have been getting in touch about recruiting Foundation and Modern Apprentices.  This is a key time of the year for applications, especially in the STEM-related industries Alison works with, so she’s been connecting businesses with training providers and helping to promote open opportunities through social media.  

We are starting to plan for the 2019/20 academic year, Hilary and Alison met with Moira Stalker from the Federation of Food & Drink.  As one of Scotland’s biggest industries and one that offers a variety of truly interesting jobs it’s one DYW Dundee & Angus are keen to promote.  We’ll keep you posted!

Engaging with Businesses

Ailsa Cormie, Employer Liaison Advisor

Today Ailsa was speaking to Dan from the Chamber of Commerce.  DYW Dundee & Angus are looking to connect with more businesses to engage with young people in Dundee and Angus.  Dan and Ailsa were talking about some of the member benefits that DYW D&A get as Chamber members and Dan will be doing some member-to-member introductions for us.  This is a great opportunity for both businesses and young people!  Business engagement is vital for DYW – it helps young people to be work-ready whilst raising the profile of your business.

Ailsa has also been doing some planning for our Careers in Care jobs carousel for October, looking at venues and speaking to businesses and organisations to get them involved.  It’s such a varied job.

Out and About

Rachel McEwen, Employer Liaison Advisor

DYW Dundee & Angus work with a huge variety of organisations and businesses across the region and this Thursday showcased that completely.

In the morning Rachel went up to Montrose to meet Museum Officer Caroline Taylor. Montrose Museum & Art Gallery has a good tourist season in the summer and offer a strong programme for children and primary schools, but haven’t had much luck engaging young people. They want to address that and illustrate how varied a career in the heritage sector can be. Rachel & Caroline discussed hands-on projects with Montrose Academy including one called After the Apocalypse. 

After lunch, it was off to meet Ryze in Dundee and find out about their positive experiences of hiring young people. The training and support they offer their Flight Crew is brilliant. The staff are incredibly confident and effective when engaging customers, which is reflected in the feedback they receive and repeat business.

Tell us what DYW activity you do

Melissa Craig, Employer Liaison Administrator

Lottie Reardon, Modern Apprentice

Today Melissa & Lottie are working on some of our marketing and communications activities. Lottie is getting things ready for the annual DYW Dundee & Angus Recognition Event, recognising and awarding all the fantastic DYW work in the region being done by businesses, education and our parents.  It’s an important way for us to help promote the sharing of good practice. Nominations are opening in the next few weeks.  Look out for the nominations opening on our website and over social media so you can nominate your DYW activity. 

Talking of social media, Melissa is hard at work on the digital comms forward plan for May so if you have anything you feel the DYW Dundee & Angus team could share across their network, get in touch at contact@dywda.co.uk.