News / SIC welcomes public money to support young workers
SHETLAND Islands Council has welcomed the award of £300,000 from the Scottish Government to support an initiative aimed at strengthening links between local businesses, schools and colleges.
The funding was announced by SNP minister for employability and training Jamie Hepburn during a visit to Orkney on Monday.
A regional group to help develop Shetland’s young workforce – comprising representatives from local private sector employers, the third sector and other local organisations including the council, Skills Development Scotland and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) – has been formed.
Its aim is to improve outcomes for young people as well as meeting the needs of local employers, and the award of financial support follows a successful funding bid earlier this year.
The group will be jointly chaired by three individuals between them representing the main employment sectors in Shetland – construction, engineering, and fisheries and aquaculture.
Robert Anderson, who attended the launch event in Orkney, works for local builders Hunter and Morrison. He chairs the Shetland Building and Allied Trades Association, and the Shetland Construction Training Group.
He is joined by Ocean Kinetics managing director John Henderson and Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation (SSPO) general manager and SIC councillor David Sandison.
Sandison said: “On behalf of Shetland’s developing young workforce regional group, I welcome the commitment demonstrated in plans to support the young workforce of the future.
“The ambition of industry and the public sector in Shetland to grow opportunities for modern apprenticeships and targeted training and skills is well supported.”
Overall the Scottish Government is spending £1 million in Scotland’s islands on the scheme.
Speaking at the launch event, Hepburn said the funding “provides the certainty and reach to support employers and educators willing to work together for the benefit of young people across Scotland.”.
He added: “Youth unemployment in Scotland is below the UK average, and is the fourth lowest in the EU. We have also seen a record number of school leavers from our most deprived communities continue their education and training, but we cannot afford to be complacent.”
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