Paid Summer Placement opportunities for Highland businesses

‘Let’s work together to create opportunities that make a real difference for our young people’.

The Highland Council is delighted to announce that we will be hosting Paid Summer Placements again in 2026, as part of our commitment to supporting young people in gaining valuable work experience.  We would like to invite businesses across the Highland Council area to join us in hosting a Paid Summer Placement. By taking part, you will be supporting the development of our future Highland workforce and providing young people with valuable experience that can help shape their career paths.

Education Committee Chair, Cllr John Finlyason said: “Following the successful Paid Summer Placement pilot in 2025, the Council is expanding the opportunity with the ambition of offering senior phase pupils aged 16 and over the chance to gain valuable work experience during the 2026 summer holidays. This initiative helps young people broaden their understanding of the wide range of career pathways available across different sectors.

“The Council is encouraging other businesses to get in touch to explore how they can also get involved and play a part in shaping the workforce of the future, right here in the Highlands.”

The Highland Council model offers:

• 27.5 hours per week for 4 weeks during the school summer holidays.
• Opportunities open to senior phase pupils aged 16 and over.

This initiative is vital for our region because it:

• Ensures young people are aware of local career opportunities
• Highlights alternative routes to qualifications, including Modern Apprenticeships (MA) and Graduate Apprenticeships (GA)
• Helps reduce outward migration for higher and further education
• Supports the retention of local talent
• Contributes to a strong and sustainable economy across the Highlands

In partnership with the Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) teams across Highland, the Council will promote businesses Paid Placement opportunities within schools, ensuring they are visible and accessible to young people across the region.

Benefits for Employers

• Access to motivated young talent who bring fresh ideas and enthusiasm.
• Early engagement with potential future employees, helping build your talent pipeline.
• Positive community impact, demonstrating your commitment to local development and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
• Enhanced visibility and reputation as a supporter of youth employability.
• Opportunity to shape the skills and attitudes of the future workforce.

If you would like to be part of this programme or learn more about how it works, please complete link Summer Paid Placements 2026 – Fill in form or contact our Project Officer -  Kerry.nicholas@highland.gov.uk to discuss further.