Scotland’s leading
youth employment
schemes make their
mark in Europe
S
COTLAND’S LEADING YOUTH
employment initiatives have
been highlighted as examples of
excellence, as part of a major €2.3m
European study.
Led by Queen Margaret University (QMU),
Edinburgh, the ‘Academies’ programme
for 14–18 year olds, and the ‘Third Sector
Internship Scotland’ project for university
students, have been singled out as pioneering
partnerships which are delivering significant
results for Scotland’s young people.
‘The Edinburgh Guarantee’ has also been
identified as a shining example in the report.
Led by City of Edinburgh Council, The
Guarantee encourages partnership across the
entire city of Edinburgh to ensure all young
people who leave school have a choice of
job, training or are offered further educational
opportunities.
Commenting on the report, Dr Ellison said:
“We’re really pleased that QMU has played
a major role in bringing these pioneering
Scottish initiatives to the attention of a
broader European audience. INSPIRES
is about making a difference to the lives of
young people across Europe by anticipating
the future challenges they face when making
the transition between education and
employment. This requires close partnership
between the public, private and third sectors
to creative innovative initiatives which will
engage young people and help them secure
work opportunities.
“QMU continues to successfully deliver
initiatives which help the transition between
education and employment for young people
across Scotland, including the Academies
programme and the Third Sector Internship
Scotland project. INSPIRES recognises the
positive outcomes for young people that
have been achieved as part of these QMU
initiatives.”
Dr Ellison and her colleagues from QMU
presented the latest national employment
report, ‘Informing Innovative Employment
Policies for Scotland’, at a recent Scottish
Parliament event chaired by Chic Brodie MSP.
Dr Marion Ellison, Senior Lecturer in
Sociology at QMU, is leading the major
European labour study in Scotland.
Dr Ellison’s work is part of the INSPIRES
(Innovative Social and Employment Policies
for Inclusive and Resilient Labour Markets
in Europe) project, which includes 12 other
leading European universities. Academics
across the partner universities are pulling
together innovative knowledge, technology
and policy approaches that improve the
resilience and active inclusion of labour
markets for young people and other
vulnerable groups across Europe.
20
QMYOU / Employability
The INSPIRES Project is aimed at young
people under the age of 25 years and includes
ethnic minorities and disabled groups. The
Scottish researchers are collaborating with
various sectors and organisations including
the Scottish Government; regional councils;
SCDI; local businesses; education sector;
employer associations and Scottish Trades
Union Congress.
For more information on the INSPIRES
Project, visit: www.inspires-research.eu ❒