Ambitious plans for Youth Employment and Apprenticeships outlined in The Highland Council Revenue Budget

Ambitious plans for youth employment and apprenticeships are due to be considered at The Highland Council (Special Meeting) covering the Revenue Budget tomorrow 4 March 2021.

This week is Scottish Apprenticeship Week 2021 (1-5 March), highlighting the value apprenticeships can bring to individuals, employers and the economy. The ambitious health and prosperity plan seeks to enhance and grow the Highland Council Modern Apprenticeship programme and support Highland businesses with recovery from Covid-19. 

Cllr Trish Robertson, Chair of Economy & Infrastructure said: “Universal Credit claims have seen a significant rise across all areas in Highland. The unemployment forecast set to rise to up 10,000, including over 900 people under the age of 20. This clearly highlights the need for strategic pathways to support young people and the unemployed. The Health and Prosperity Plan focuses on opportunity and shows confidence in the capacity for the Highlands to recover and grow with the correct targeted investment.  The combined impact of the pandemic, and Brexit presents significant challenges and it is not possible to predict how deeply these will be felt moving forward. What we do know is that we need to do everything we can to stimulate employment and opportunities for our people.”

To ensure the Modern Apprentice (MA) scheme attracts a diverse age-range and reaches those who will benefit the most, the Highland Health and Prosperity Plan will include a number of approaches:

  • An action plan focused on an MA programme directly linked to the targeted young adult group, reporting of progress to the Education Committee; Empowering service users who are being supported by the public sector to access and succeed within the MA programme as this will be important for their individual prosperity and social mobility.
  • Adults falling into unemployment and those aged 50+ with experience will be provided with opportunities to learn new skills and gain valuable experience.
  • There will be additional support for mentoring young people and upskilling mentors. The vision is for every Young Person to progress to a post school positive destination, (whether this is further education, training, volunteering or a job) and is able to prosper in the world of work.
  • The Mentoring programme would inspire young people, reveal their potential and guide them through their career journey, through regular meetings with an identified mentor (public sector/ business) which focuses on the Young Person’s education and career journey.
  • Developing opportunities for supported businesses providing jobs for individuals of all ages with disabilities. The proposal is to research and develop principles and sustainable business models, including how this can be embedded within future Council procurement activity.
  • Providing training, skills and learning opportunities in partnership to respond to identified need for re-skilling and learning opportunities, based on labour market force and post COVID-19 data. This will connect into the council’s aspiration for the Highland Council Virtual Academy, including digital training and a range of core qualifications and skills and development opportunities.
  • Identifying strategies to work with businesses wishing to relocate to The Highlands, ensuring sufficient learning and skills development is readily available. This will also allow a focus on specific sectoral challenges, such as retail.
  • Targeted support for social enterprises will recognise the huge potential of the third sector to stimulate economic activity. This will require further discussion with partners around potential and plans, including employment, training and mentoring programmes, with a clear focus on Community Wealth Building. The input of young people, staff and newly unemployed adults and those aged 50+ with experience, will be critical to stimulate ideas and develop creative opportunities.
  • Collaboration with the advice sector to promote the new opportunities created by economic growth, inclusion and prosperity, and to match the broad range of individuals aged 16-65 with renewed and new prospects.

The Highland Council (special meeting) held tomorrow 4 March will consider the Highland Health and Prosperity Fund set out in the Revenue Budget 2021/22 to 2023/24.

-Ends-

3 Mar 2021