1. DEVELOPING THE YOUNG WORKFORCE
Scottish Government Initiative – Funding over 3 yrs
Commission for Developing Scotland’s Young Workforce lead by Sir Ian Wood [ Dec. 2014]
Dumfries and Galloway 8th region to access funds [22 in total]
Managed under D&G Chamber of Commerce
Identify and Build School Employer relations
Build School, College and Employer links
Giving Employers Reasons to Employ Youth
Nurturing our young local workforce

2. Scottish Governments Aspiration
Developing the Young Workforce – Scotland’s Youth Employment Strategy (2014) sets out how the Scottish Government will implement the recommendations from the Commission for Developing Scotland's Young Workforce, with headline target to reduce youth unemployment by 40% by 2021:

3. D&G Secondary School Partnerships

4. DEVELOPING THE YOUNG WORKFORCE : TALENT ATTRACTION
Youths transitioning straight from school to into Industry / workplace. Give prior insights.
Support work experience, placements and visits
Build Employer engagement and mentoring.
Encourage Business’s to take on work experience and Modern Apprenticeships
Mentor, mould, train and retain your own workforce

5. Education and The Timber and Forestry Industry in Dumfries & Galloway
DYW identified there is a need to profile this Industry within Education, as its a leading economic driver for D&G. Schools are not engaged and relatively unaware of the diversity and careers available.
SFTT South Scotland Regional Industry Cluster offers an opportunity to promote the opportunities of DYW to the main industry employers of the region.
Scottish Forestry Timber Technologies (SFTT) Industry Leadership Group (ILG) Skills Action Plan : Priority Objective (Talent Attraction No. 5)
As a sector we will engage with Scottish Government’s “Developing the Young Workforce” strategy through regional and national groups to raise the sectors profile and opportunities.
A collaborative approach with key stakeholders. Buy-in from all parties as they recognise that access to Secondary schools will lead to an informed and innovative way of ‘selling’ this to our future workforce

6. The Current State of the Forestry Workforce
KEY CHALLENGES FACING THE INDUSTRY
Ageing workforce across the Industry
New areas of expertise and technology in Forestry and Timber
Not attracting young people – perceived as ‘unsexy!’
Lack of clear pathways within the industry
Barony College Forestry Faculty delivers up to National Certificate
Only one University delivers a degree in Forestry [Inverness]

7. Planting and Harvesting Partners
KEY PARTNERS: CONFOR [The National Forestry Confederation]
SCOTTISH FORESTRY COMMISSION [Government/Public]
SCOTTISH WOODLANDS [private management]
OTHER PRIVATE WOODLAND HARVESTERS
SCOTTISH FORESTRY AND TIMBER TECHNOLOGIES

8. HAULAGE , CONTRACTORS AND MANAFACTURERS

9. How Can Employers Get involved?
Mentoring
Work Based Learning and Placement
CV’s and Interviews
Work shadowing
Modern Apprenticeships
Work Inspiration Activities
Internships
Increased skills in evolving technology