Developing Scotland’s Young Workforce Programme

The Commission provided a clear vision … Greater focus on employability in school; Good quality options to help young people to prepare for work; Including highly valued vocational education - rooted in CfE - which engages significant industry support; A college system fully focussed on employability; Extending the breadth and reach of apprenticeship opportunities; A system underpinned by industry engagement; Ensuring all young people can access the broadest range of opportunities.

With stretching targets Youth unemployment falling to the levels of the best-performing European countries. This is very stretching: 70% employers don’t engage with education; the best performing countries have half our rate of youth unemployment.

Wide-ranging recommendations Fundamental cultural change (parents, young people, schools, employers) + accompanying further development of supporting policy = system change Changing the way we support at least half of all young people into employment. Cover a range of Ministerial portfolios

A seven year programme Short term: business shaping apprenticeships ; new invest in youth accolades; employability features in school inspections; Medium term: senior phase pathways introduced for learners; roll out of high level apprenticeships; Longer term: learners benefiting from these opportunities will enter labour market from end of academic year 2016/17 and beyond.

Fundamental change required Strong foundations: building on CfE; college reform and the Modern Apprenticeship programme; Major change required: shifting schools and parents’ focus on the academic route; motivating industry to act as more than a passive consumer of education. Requires collective support: SDS, Funding Council, Education Scotland, other public bodies (Sen, HIE, SCQF, SQA), Local Authorities and businesses, inc. busines organisations.

… that engages those intended to benefit Parents – need to feel confident that Highers and university aren’t the only route to success and that the pursuit of vocational qualifications do not limit aspirations. Young people – need to consider different options with a clear view about their job prospects. Employers – need to recruit younger people and take on a role in education and training. But none of these groups can be brigaded easily We need to influence their thinking through innovative engagement, at both a national and regional level.

Leading the change SG, Local Authorities, Parliament, industry, colleges, teaching unions, parents and young people themselves are all essential. Currently a high level of stakeholder support – challenge to maintain this Different political issues and labour market changes will emerge during implementation; Establishment of national programme to develop the young workforce recognises range and scale of change required.

Governance Structure Programme Board A system underpinned by industry engagement A college system fully focussed on employability and responding to industry’s skills needs at the regional and national levels Apprenticeship opportunities for young people to achieve a flexible set of qualifications up to and including degree level while in work. Clearer vocational pathways, starting in the senior phase which lead to industry recognised qualifications A more intensive, industry influenced focus on employability within the CfE broad general education Cross cutting issues – Equalities, digital, STEM & Quality Career education in schools; Careers advice; Teacher Education; Regional & Local structured creation of senior phase vocational pathways; Interventions to support re-engagement; Measuring attainment across academic and vocational routes Higher level MAs targeted on economic growth; STEM ring-fence; Access to apprenticeships; Pre-apprenticeship training; Focusing college outcome agreements; Higher level skills/STEM; Employment services; Education Scotland focus on industry; Skills planning; Employer contribution National Advisory Group Political and senior stakeholder leadership Change Themes Schools Colleges

The right elements for change A clear vision A defined set of actions: Commission’s recommendations a clear starting point; building on existing assets with some additional new resource A means of sustaining the political will through the National Advisory Group A disciplined Programme management approach