Aberdeen City Council has been successful in its application to become a Young Person’s Guarantee employer.
By signing up to the Young Person’s Guarantee, the Council will focus on connecting young people to a range of opportunities, and supporting and developing them in their roles, whilst building a workforce for the future with the right people, skills and experience.
The Council have committed to supporting young people in the form of 5 pledges:
1. To prepare young people for the world of work
2. To help all young people achieve their potential
3. To invest in a skilled workforce
4. To create jobs, volunteering and training opportunities
5. To create an inclusive and fair workplace
The Council will continue to build on the significant work that has been done already to meet these 5 pledges by developing opportunities for young people through its apprenticeship programme, work experience placements, partnering with schools, colleges and universities, its Guaranteed Interview Scheme, and supporting employability initiatives such as Kickstart.
Councillor M Tauqeer Malik, Aberdeen City Council's Education Operational Delivery Convener said: “I am delighted that Aberdeen City Council has been successful in applying to the Young Persons Guarantee.
“Aberdeen City Council is proud to commit to the Young Person’s Guarantee and join employers across Scotland in providing the best opportunities we can for young people.
“It was important for Aberdeen City Council to sign up for the Young Person’s Guarantee because we are committed to connecting young people to opportunities in the world of work and to building a workforce with the right skills and experience with young people at the heart of what we do.”
Mary Holland, director of Developing the Young Workforce North-east, said: “The pandemic has had a disproportionate economic effect on Scotland’s young people, reducing job opportunities just as they are starting out on their career.
“To make sure their prospects are not permanently damaged, we are asking employers to come forward and join what is a crucial intervention and commit to the Young Person’s Guarantee.
“Aberdeen City Council’s decision to sign up to the guarantee is particularly important as they are such a major local employer.
“It clearly shows they appreciate that young people bring a wealth of talent, creativity, and enthusiasm to the workplace, which is critical now and for future success.
“DYW and the YPG are here to help employers develop a future pipeline of skills and experience with young people at the heart of the workforce.”
Councillor Yvonne Allan, Aberdeen City Council’s convener of staff governance committee said: “I am proud that we have signed up to the YPG as an employer. We achieved the Investors in Young People Gold Standard accreditation in 2020 for our commitment to attracting young people into employment opportunities with the council and to support and develop them in the course of their employment. By signing up to the YPG it further cements our ongoing commitment to young people in the city.”
Aberdeen City Council is a large employer with a diverse range of jobs and careers and a variety of career pathways available, with support in place for young people joining its workforce including learning and development opportunities and a Young Employee Network. The Council works closely with partner organisations such as DYW Northeast and Career Ready as well as local colleges and universities, to support an apprenticeship programme which provides Foundation Apprentice placements and Modern and Graduate Apprenticeship opportunities. The Council will continue its journey to be an employer of choice for young people.
For more information about the Young Person’s Guarantee please contact DYW at info@dyw.org.uk