Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) Orkney recently welcomed three new members to the team, as DYW School Co-ordinators.

They will be based in our local Secondary and Junior High Schools and will work alongside Skills Development Scotland Careers Advisers, their respective school’s Senior Management Teams and Guidance staff, as well as other partners to support young people into a positive destination.  They will help develop the link between education and the world of work, increasing young people’s career awareness and skills development.

Over the next few days we will be introducing you to the team, and today we start with Charlotte Hoque.

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.

A careers event was held at Stronsay Junior High earlier this week to help pupils think about their career options and understand the range of opportunities that are available to them on Stronsay, elsewhere in Orkney and further afield.

Titled Stronsay Destinations and using the theme of No Wrong Path, the event was organised by school teachers Mrs Groat and Mrs Barber, Developing the Young Workforce Orkney and Skills Development Scotland.  We were joined at the event by Cooke Aquaculture and Papdale Halls of Residence.