Scotland's Economy

Investors in Young People

October 16, 2014 by Investors in People Scotland No Comments | Category Economy

Published earlier this year, the Commission for Developing Scotland’s Young Workforce has focused minds on the subject of youth unemployment. Currently, there are 53,000 Young People not in employment, education or training in Scotland. With only 27% of employers offering work experience and 29% employing directly from education in Scotland, there is significant scope and capacity for employers to positively and directly influence the future of the Scottish economy.

Employers who are proactive in the employment of Young People have reported myriad business benefits, including:

• A talent pool for the future being built and sustained
• Professional development for managers
• Young People bringing a different mind-set and fresh pair of eyes
• Employment of Young People increases life skills for all, including the Young People
• Young People have skills such as IT and social media that are not readily available elsewhere

Working within an organisation that understands long term employment needs and plans for succession management; or an organisation where there is a process for consulting with Young People about the way that they are managed and supported; or where leaders in the organisation have an understanding of Young People’s needs, can all make huge differences to the way that Young People develop within a working environment.

One of the key recommendations from Sir Ian Wood’s report was for the creation of an Investors in Young People (IIYP) accreditation framework. Launched in the summer by Investors in People Scotland following support from the Scottish Government, the first early adopters of the framework have become IIYP accredited.

Tags: education, employment, training, young people

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