Project is just the job for 2,000 young folk

Minister hails scheme as playing crucial part in bringing down unemployment

Around 2,000 young people in Fife will receive help to prepare for and find work through an industry-led group, it emerged yesterday.

Minister for employability and training Jamie Hepburn saw the work of Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) Fife first-hand as he visited a number of employers in the region.

More than 150 Fife schools are involved in DYW Fife, which is looking to encourage enterprise in the classroom and provide work-based learning for students, including foundation apprenticeships and mentoring.

Mr Hepburn met young people and staff at Ember Technology in Glenrothes, Purvis Group in Lochgelly and Burntisland Fabrications.

And he hailed DYW Fife for playing its part in trying to reduce unemployment by 40% across the country by 2021.

The visit coincided with new figures which revealed the number of young people claiming Jobseekers Allowance has fallen below 500 – 1,570 fewer than three years ago.

Mr Hepburn said: “The latest unemployment and employment figures show our labour market remains resilient with unemployment now at a record low.

“Our employment rate is also rising, with 25,000 more people in employment than in the last quarter.

“The work of groups like DYW Fife is helping with this progress by working to close the gap in youth unemployment in the area.

“It is providing young people with vocational learning and making sure employers are working with schools to encourage enterprise and business skills from an early point.

“This type of approach will help employers in Fife meet their workforce needs and identify skills gaps.

“I would encourage all local businesses and young people to get in touch with the DYW Fife group and see how they can benefit from this support.”

Mr Hepburn also heard more about its board’s new campaign, which aims to help businesses to find out how they can become involved.

Altany Craik, convener of Fife Council’s economy, tourism, strategic planning and transportation committee, said: “In Fife, we recognise the crucial role schools play in preparing pupils for employment.

“Over the last few years we’ve introduced a range of work-related and entrepreneurship programmes into our schools.

“Developing the Young Workforce Fife (DYW) Fife is increasing the type and volume of employment and training opportunities being offered to young people.

“DYW is helping bring together schools, colleges and employers to meet the needs of changing industry demands.”

It is providing young people with vocational learning and making sure employers are working with schools

Picture: Steve MacDougall. Employability and training minister Jamie Hepburn at Ember Technology in Glenrothes. From left: Serene Rajkarnikar, Mr Hepburn, Chris Reed, Connor Cockburn and Dwain Maxwell of Ember Technology.