Pupils at Kirkwall Grammar School can learn more about the variety of careers available in Orkney and hear from local people undertaking different jobs with DYW Orkney’s Careers in the Spotlight.

Leah, the DYW School Co-ordinator based at the KGS, has been busy speaking to local people about their jobs as part of this regular feature.

Pupils will learn more about the different pathways people have taken into their job, the best thing about it and the qualifications a young person might need to do a similar role.  Pupils can also learn about some of the other skills and experience they should think about developing to help them in their future career.

Currently, pupils can read interviews from a Hairdresser, Teacher and Police Officer.

Careers in the Spotlight can be found on the SDS Orkney and DYW Orkney ‘Opportunities and Careers Information’ noticeboard which is located on the first floor of the school.

​Thank you to all the local people who agreed to be interviewed for sharing their career journey with pupils.

The next DYW School Co-ordinator in our team is Leah Rendall, who will be based at Kirkwall Grammar School.

Leah has always wanted to work with children and young people and has spent over 20 years doing just that in a variety of settings, most recently at Papdale Primary School.  Here, Leah tells us a bit about her career journey.

A trainee opportunity is being offered to an Orkney-based young person, giving them that chance to collaborate with a local printmaker and co-produce a project of their own design.
 
Soulisquoy Printmaker in Stromness, is offering the traineeship as part of ART Evolution, which is being supported by Creative Scotland and managed by Engage Scotland.
 
As part of the programme, they are looking to recruit a young person aged 16-25 years to take part in a short training programme and be closely involved in the running of the project, its development and delivery.
 
The time commitment will mostly be at weekends and evenings and could suit some still at school, at college or already working.  You will have the chance to learn about the arts sector, project management and printmaking, with the successful applicant receiving a £2,000 bursary to participate in the programme.  This could be a unique opportunity to add to your CV.
 
If you would like to learn more about this opportunity, Soulisquoy Printmakers are hosting a taster session on Saturday 16 and 23 October.  You can also get further details by emailing info@soulisquoy.co.uk
 
There is more information about the trainee opportunity at the links below.

Young people across Orkney will today (Tuesday 10 August) receive confirmation from SQA of the results they have achieved this year.  If your results are not what you expected, don’t panic you still have options – and there are experts on hand to help you navigate the next part of your journey.
 
From 8am on Tuesday 10 August, a dedicated Results Helpline from Skills Development Scotland (SDS) will run with Careers Advisers waiting to answer calls and offer advice, information and support to young people and their parents or carers.
 
The helpline has been open since mid-June providing support in relation to provisional results and what they may mean, however young people and parents can now get information in relation to course vacancies, clearing, advice on apprenticeships, jobs, volunteering and staying on at school.
 
You can call the helpline on 0808 100 8000.  It will be open from 8am-8pm on Tuesday 10 and Wednesday 11 August.  Thereafter, it will be open on weekdays between 9am-5pm between Thursday 12 and Wednesday 18 August 2021.
 
If you would rather speak to someone familiar, you can also contact Careers Advisers from the local SDS team in Kirkwall.  You can get in touch with them by calling (01856) 872 460 or emailing kirkwall@sds.co.uk.  You can also find them on Facebook @SDS Orkney.
 
You can find further advice on My World of Work.

The past year has been a year like no other, and the impact on young people has been significant.  Scotland's industry leaders and employers have signed an open letter to Scotland's young people to let them know that they support them, recognise their qualifications and congratulate them on their achievements.

You can read the letter below:

School pupils across Orkney will have received provisional SQA results for their assessments earlier this week, and if your results are not what you expected, don’t panic you still have options – and there are experts on hand to help you navigate the next part of your journey.

Skills Development Scotland (SDS) are extending their results support this year and Careers Advisers are now waiting to answer calls and provide support to young people, their parents and carers.
 
If you, or your child, needs some help with provisional results they can call the SDS Helpline on 0800 917 8000, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.  This number will be open until Monday 9 August to discuss provisional results and what they mean.
 
Further support will be available from Tuesday 10 August in relation to course vacancies, clearing, advice about apprenticeships, jobs, volunteering and staying on at school.  Keep an eye out for more information nearer the time.
 
If you would rather speak to someone familiar, you can also contact Careers Advisers from the local SDS team in Kirkwall.  You can get in touch with them by calling (01856) 872 460 or emailing kirkwall@sds.co.uk.  You can also find them on Facebook @SDS Orkney.
 
You can find further advice on My World of Work.

Young people across Orkney who need help applying for jobs, apprenticeships or college courses can access support from a new programme created by Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) Orkney and Skills Development Scotland (SDS).

​The ‘Planning for the Future’ career management programme is free and includes resources that young people can use if they need help writing a CV, applying for a college course, apprenticeship or job or preparing for an interview.

​Are you currently considering your next steps into education, employment or training but need some extra help?  Developing the Young Workforce Orkney and Skills Development Scotland have developed an online careers event to help you make decisions about your future.
 
The ‘Your Next Steps’ careers event provides information and advice on Work, Support and, Education and Training.  You will find a mix of videos, presentations and links to other websites to help you take your next step.

​An online game which has been designed to help close the skills gap in the engineering sector has been launched and is now available to play.
 
Enginuity and the Prince’s Trust have created Skills Miner, an online game that can identify people who have what it takes to power the nation’s economic recovery when the lockdown is lifted.

​Students who intend to study Law at a Scottish University next year have a chance to apply for a bursary to support them through their degree.

​To celebrate Scottish Apprenticeships Week, we are highlighting the diversity that makes work-based learning good for individuals, employers and the economy.
 
Throughout the week, BBC Radio Orkney are featuring interviews with local people who are undertaking apprenticeships along with their employers, who are supporting them through the qualification.

Following a successful event last year, NHS Orkney in partnership with Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) Orkney, held a ‘Day in the Life’ event at The Balfour on Friday 15 November. These events help young people learn more about the range of health and social care careers that are available with NHS Orkney.​

The ‘Day in the Life’ event was open to interested pupils from S3-S6 at secondary schools throughout Orkney.

Exam results will be published on Tuesday 6 August 2019, and if your results are not what you expected, don’t panic you still have options – and there are experts on hand to help you navigate the next part of your journey.
 
From 8am on Tuesday 6 August, a dedicated Exam Results Helpline from Skills Development Scotland (SDS) will be running with Careers Advisers waiting to answer calls and offer advice, information and support to young people and their parents.
 
You can call the helpline on 0808 100 8000.  It will be open from 8am-8pm on Tuesday 6 and Wednesday 7 August, then 9am-5pm on weekdays from Thursday 8 to Wednesday 14 August 2019.
 
If you’d rather speak to a familiar face, on Tuesday 6 August, Findlay will be holding an exam results drop-in session at Stromness Academy between 10am and 3pm while Karen will be in the KGS between 9am-3pm.
 
You can also speak to Careers Advisers at the SDS Careers Centre in Kirkwall.  You can either drop into the centre or give them a call on 01856 872 460 to make an appointment.
 
You can find further advice on My World of Work. 

Are you a school pupil aged 14 years and over who is interested in developing some customer care skills to help you in your part-time job?

​If so, Business Gateway are hosting a FREE Customer Connection Workshop for school pupils to help them develop the vital customer care skills that employers are looking for.

​A six week programme to help young people prepare for their next step after leaving school concluded this week.

In partnership with Skills Development Scotland, DYW Orkney have been working with pupils at Kirkwall Grammar School and Stromness Academy who are planning to leave school at the end of this academic year.  The six week School Leavers’ Programme was developed to help prepare young people for their next step after school.

We’ve had a busy week spreading the message about Foundation Apprenticeships.

On Monday, we held an information evening for senior teaching staff, guidance teachers and careers advisers from local schools. This event was supported by staff from the Work Based Learning Hub at University of the Highlands and Islands and Curriculum Leads from Orkney College UHI.

Those present were given an overview of Foundation Apprenticeships in Scotland and heard some of the success stories from elsewhere in Scotland. The curriculum leads then spoke in more detail about the frameworks being offered in Orkney in 2019, highlighting the academic aspect of the subjects and the benefits the vocational, work placement element offers young people.

On Tuesday we attended the Senior Phase Parent's Evening at Stromness Academy to speak to parents about the Foundation Apprenticeships being offered.

Thursday saw us, along with Orkney College, delivering an input to all teaching staff at Stromness Academy, as part for their in-service training.

All of these inputs have been really beneficial as they have enabled us to inform those who support young people about the options available. We have also been able to answer any questions they may have and help them understand the various options available to learners as part of the Orkney Offer.

There will be four Foundation Apprenticeships available in Orkney next year. They are Business Skills, IT: Software Development, Social Services and Healthcare and, Social Services: Children and Young People. If you would like to learn more about what the can offer, speak to your careers advisers, guidance teachers or Orkney College.

​Thanks to Orkney College, University of the Highlands and Islands and local schools for their support at these inputs.