Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce (DACC) have successfully been awarded funding to support and deliver the DYW Tay Cities initiative.
A large funding pot of just under £1 million pounds has been awarded this financial year to connect employers and young people, including supporting the apprenticeship scheme with foundation, modern and graduate apprenticeship opportunities.
DACC will take a key role in forming the new Tay Cities team covering Perth and Kinross and Dundee and Angus, driving employer engagement with schools and colleges, shaping the future skills of our young people and supporting local business to get close to their future workforce all while ensuring equality is at the heart of what we do.
This opportunity is paramount to how our young people can achieve a positive destination that is right for them when they make the next step in their careers during and after education whilst delivering talent pipelines for employers in the area now and the coming years.
Alison Henderson, DACC CEO said:
“DACC are delighted to have the DYW Tay Cities team on board with us, we are committed to the Young Person’s Guarantee so it is a passion of mine to be engaged with DYW and with this funding award we will be a key part of the delivery for the Scottish Government. Employer engagement is key to the success of the DYW initiative. Being part of the Chamber team with our large member base and connections with local and national businesses, means we can help the DYW regional group thrive in the Tay Cities region.”
“As an SME in the local area, we have successfully supported thirteen young Apprentices in the last three years and have found it to be a really rewarding but straightforward process. Investing in training the workforce of the future is in every employers’ best interests, and gives a vital lifeline to young people who might not know what they want to do as a career or what skills they need to develop to be successful. This has undoubtedly helped our business to grow.”
The New Tay Cities Board has been formed, chaired by John Duncan of Aviva and Daniel Rosie of DLR Media as Vice-Chair. They will be joined by other key stakeholders from across the area and will be focussed on the strategy for the new team and reporting to the Scottish Government.
As well as engagement in schools and colleges in the area, employers will be encouraged to attend careers fairs and inspirational events both virtual and face to face across the Tay Cities region, offer and take part in work experience opportunities and really make a positive difference to every young person who is involved with the initiative.
Jamie Hepburn, Minister for Higher Education and Further Education, Youth Employment and Training said:
“The collaboration between education and industry is vital to supporting young people into the world of work. I’m confident that the networks that exist across the region provide strong foundations that will help to continue delivering this important initiative.
Developing Young Workforce (DYW) provides a unique opportunity to strengthen these relationships and to engage directly with employers to offer young people insights and support to transition into an opportunity that is right for them.
Employers provide valuable insight into the needs of the local economy and it is with their help, we can ensure that the future workforce of Scotland thrive.”
