Campaign launched to promote work placements for young people

A initiative to boost the number of young people in Perth and Kinross attaining work placements has been launched.

The Learn a Living campaign is targeting small and medium sized businesses, with just 10% of 6,000 employers offering work placements to young people.

Delivered by Developing the Youth Workforce Perth and Kinross (DYW), it aims to sign up more organisations into work placement schemes and remove doubts and misconceptions about young people.

The initiative was previewed to representatives of the Perth and Kinross business community on Tuesday.

A number of high-profile business leaders – from areas such as construction, marketing and computing – have added their support by becoming ambassadors to the campaign.

DYW chairman Steven Stewart said: “Work experience is key to unlocking the door of work. It opens up opportunities for young people to showcase their talents and build new skills.

“For employers, it’s a great route to securing their talent pipeline and helping their business grow. If our city and the wider region is to capitalise on the huge opportunities ahead, we need work experience to be an integral part of how we all do business.”

CEO of McLeod Glaziers and Meldrum Construction, Derek Petterson, said: “We actively promote opportunities through apprentice programmes and work placements, giving young people the chance to come and work at our sites.

“I am delighted to be involved in the Learn a Living campaign and would encourage other employers to do the same.”