Make Young People Your Business

22nd August 2013

Employers urged to aid youth employment and boost economic growth.

The economic benefits of taking on a talented, enthusiastic young person will be highlighted to Scotland’s businesses next week.

The first Make Young People Your Business Week will kick off on Monday (August 26) and will see a number of ministerial visits and announcements themed around how Scotland’s younger generation can aid economic growth.

Minister for Youth Employment Angela Constance said:

“In my time as the UK’s first youth employment minister, I have heard some wonderful stories from both young people and the organisations that have taken on energetic new talent. There have been some real success stories from all around the country involving young people who have made progress in employment, demonstrated their loyalty and value to employers and aided their economic growth. In order to truly step up our efforts to support young people into jobs, we need to paint a positive picture for those employers not yet sold on the benefits, including how a younger workforce will aid long-term planning.

“This is about enabling employers help a young employee make the most of their potential, and making further progress with youth employment figures. My fellow ministers and I plan to visit as many employers as we can to raise awareness among the business world, and the public and third sectors, that we have a talented young workforce that is incredibly keen to take their first steps on the career ladder. Key partners such as Skills Development Scotland will also have a pivotal role.

“While youth employment numbers continue to move in the right direction with Scotland better placed than the rest of the UK, we realise there is more to do. Every 16 to 19 year old has a guaranteed offer of a place in training or education and we will continue to create 25,000 Modern Apprenticeship opportunities as well as thousands of youth jobs. But we must take our employers with us and this coming week will be about how to help them make young people their business. Recruiting young people is not just the right thing to do but the smart thing to do.”

The Scottish Government will work closely with key stakeholders including Skills Development Scotland on raising awareness of the benefits of employing young people. Skills Development Scotland’s ourskillsforce.co.uk provides information to employers on the skills support available from the public sector in Scotland. The Make Young People Your Business area of the site brings together online advice to help employers recruit and develop young people.

See - http://www.ourskillsforce.co.uk/recruit/make-young-people-your-business/

Interested employers can follow the Twitter account [AT]MYPYB and the hashtag #newtalent will be used throughout the week.