There are a number of ways business can help to develop the young workforce in Shetland. Engaging with young people now will introduce you to them as a potential employer in the future. It offers a chance for you to tap directly into Shetland's future talent pool to grow your business. It also gives you the opportunity as an employer to lend your expertise and stand out as a leader in your field.
PARTNER WITH A SCHOOL OR COLLEGE
Businesses across Scotland are forming meaningful relationships with schools and other education providers. Here at DYW Shetland, we are helping local employers to build and develop these partnerships for the mutual benefit of both parties.
One of the great things about connecting with a local school is that every partnership is different. What this means for you as a business is that a partnership can be tailored to suit the needs of both you and the education provider, meaning that your involvement can be big or small. What matters most is that it brings mutual benefit to your business and to the young people who are the workforce of tomorrow.
Benefits of forming a partnership with a local school or college include:
If you are ready to explore what a partnership could look like for your business, please email shetlanddyw@uhi.ac.uk or call 01595 771228.
You can also click below to read the Scottish Government’s Guidance Notes on School/Employer Partnerships.
One of the great things about connecting with a local school is that every partnership is different. What this means for you as a business is that a partnership can be tailored to suit the needs of both you and the education provider, meaning that your involvement can be big or small. What matters most is that it brings mutual benefit to your business and to the young people who are the workforce of tomorrow.
Benefits of forming a partnership with a local school or college include:
- The opportunity to promote your industry and show-case the opportunities within it
- A steady flow of Early Careers engagement to create your future talent pipeline
- Directly contributing to young people developing the right skills for the workplace
- The chance to raise business profile and reputation within the community
- Providing Continuous Professional Development (CPD) opportunities for your staff
- Being part of a wider business network who are directly influencing our young people
If you are ready to explore what a partnership could look like for your business, please email shetlanddyw@uhi.ac.uk or call 01595 771228.
You can also click below to read the Scottish Government’s Guidance Notes on School/Employer Partnerships.
ACCESS Financial Support
Funding for Modern Apprenticeships is available through Train Shetland and the amount will depend on the sector and the age of the apprentice. Contact Train Shetland for more information. Email vocational.training@shetland.gov.uk or call 01595 744 744.
Provide Career Advice
We all remember what it was like trying to make career decisions. It isn’t always easy knowing what opportunities are out there and what skills employers are looking for.
Engaging with education is a great way for employers to highlight the opportunities available within their industry and to educate young people about the skills required to be successful in the working world.
There are a range of ways in which you can get involved in providing career advice to local young people, including:
These activities can support your business to raise awareness of your industry, which will not only inspire young people to consider new career options, it will also inform them of what they need to do to get there, which – in terms of talent attraction – is of huge benefit.
If you would like to get involved in providing Career Advice, please email shetlanddyw@uhi.ac.uk or call 01595 771228.
Engaging with education is a great way for employers to highlight the opportunities available within their industry and to educate young people about the skills required to be successful in the working world.
There are a range of ways in which you can get involved in providing career advice to local young people, including:
- Delivering a Career Talk within a classroom environment
- Attending a Careers Fair at a local school or college
- Providing support with employability skills such as conducting mock interviews for pupils
- Delivering masterclasses on topics such as CV writing or interview techniques
- Providing Continuous Professional Development (CPD) sessions to teachers
These activities can support your business to raise awareness of your industry, which will not only inspire young people to consider new career options, it will also inform them of what they need to do to get there, which – in terms of talent attraction – is of huge benefit.
If you would like to get involved in providing Career Advice, please email shetlanddyw@uhi.ac.uk or call 01595 771228.
Host a Workplace Visit
There's no better way to allow others to gain an insight into your industry than to facilitate a school visit to your business. Showing pupils – and teachers – around your organisation is a great way of bringing your industry to life. It gives people an understanding of the working environment and the opportunities available. Employers find that hosting site visits is a great way of promoting their industry to the next generation workforce, and to their direct influencers.
If you'd like our support with helping you to set up a workplace visit, please email shetlanddyw@uhi.ac.uk or call 01595 771228.
Or, if you have an opportunity you'd like to share, please join our online Marketplace and post details on the noticeboard.
If you'd like our support with helping you to set up a workplace visit, please email shetlanddyw@uhi.ac.uk or call 01595 771228.
Or, if you have an opportunity you'd like to share, please join our online Marketplace and post details on the noticeboard.
First time hosting a workplace visit? Why not check out our top tips.
Set a Real Life Business Project
Getting pupils involved in an innovative business project can help students to understand the business world and to learn practical, work-based skills. Pupil involvement in projects can also add value to any business through the fresh ideas and insight that young people can contribute.
Business projects are a great way of:
If you'd like to get involved with a business project, please email shetlanddyw@uhi.ac.uk or call 01595 771228, and we can support you in taking the next steps.
Already have a business project that you want to get pupils involved in?
Business projects are a great way of:
- Highlighting the importance of listening and following instructions
- Demonstrating how to work together as part of a team
- Developing pupils’ communication and presentation skills
- Improving organisational and project management skills
If you'd like to get involved with a business project, please email shetlanddyw@uhi.ac.uk or call 01595 771228, and we can support you in taking the next steps.
Already have a business project that you want to get pupils involved in?
Get Involved in School Competitions
Running school competitions is a great way to get young people thinking outside the box and using their initiative. They can develop key skills such as creativity, planning and teamwork, which are all key transferrable skills to take into the world of work.
Businesses that work with schools to launch and run competitions can help to nurture the next generation workforce and play a direct role in shaping and developing their futures.
If you have an idea for a school competition and want support to implement it across schools in Shetland, please email us at shetlanddyw@uhi.ac.uk or call 01595 771228.
Or, you can use our online Marketplace tool to share details of the competition you want to offer.
Businesses that work with schools to launch and run competitions can help to nurture the next generation workforce and play a direct role in shaping and developing their futures.
If you have an idea for a school competition and want support to implement it across schools in Shetland, please email us at shetlanddyw@uhi.ac.uk or call 01595 771228.
Or, you can use our online Marketplace tool to share details of the competition you want to offer.
Offer a Work Placement
Work placements for young people in Shetland used to be a week-long placement in a workplace, a format that didn't always work for employers or students. Today, work placements are much more flexible and can be tailored to your business' needs. Pupils can come in when you need them to, be that for a day or two a week or a for an extended period – whatever works best for you and your business.
Work placements help young people to get their foot on the career ladder. The opportunity to experience first-hand what the world is like, as well as develop key skills like communication and teamwork, is invaluable.
If you'd like to offer a work placement opportunity to a local young person, please contact us to discuss what would work best for your business.
For more detailed guidance on what work placements entail, click on the link below.
Work placements help young people to get their foot on the career ladder. The opportunity to experience first-hand what the world is like, as well as develop key skills like communication and teamwork, is invaluable.
If you'd like to offer a work placement opportunity to a local young person, please contact us to discuss what would work best for your business.
For more detailed guidance on what work placements entail, click on the link below.