At Borders College, we have been working hard with our partners in Scottish Borders Council, Skills Development Scotland, the Department of Work and Pensions and Developing the Young Workforce to ensure that we offer a range of opportunities to young people in the south of Scotland.
There are several strands to the Young Person’s Guarantee, which include the Apprentice Employer Grant, Kickstart, Skills Boost Academies, Pathway Apprenticeships and Employability Courses.
Over the last few months, the College has developed Pathways to Employment offered through schools and the Department of Work and Pensions, which are designed to teach young people the skills they need for the workplace. Our Skills Boost Academies also support students to develop employability skills in specific subject areas, as well as providing support to write a CV or cover letter, along with interview and presentation skills.
We are also administering the Apprentice Employer Grant – a fund that provides businesses with up to £5,000 to hire a new apprentice.
Katherine Mathison, the College’s Director of Enterprise & Business Innovation, commented:
“There has been considerable interest in this fund, and it is great to see so many local businesses looking to the future and providing employment opportunities for young people.”
In addition to the Young Person’s Guarantee, Borders college is working with employers to deliver the Flexible Workforce Development Fund, which is open to businesses who either pay into the apprenticeship levy or are classed as an SME. The FWDF provides businesses with access to training to upskill or reskill their workforce and drive productivity improvements.
“Over the last 12 months, the College has delivered a big increase in its apprenticeship contract, and is working hard to develop new courses. Our team welcomes feedback from all businesses, large or small, and would be delighted to talk to anyone about how can help”, commented Mathison.
Contact us today by dropping a message to debi@borderscollege.ac.uk and one of our skilled staff will be in touch.