Nicola Sturgeon announces £70m investment in youth employment

Nicola Sturgeon has said the Scottish Government is determined to do everything it can to support young people impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

It comes as the First Minister on Wednesday announced that £70m will be invested towards youth employment.

The Young Person’s Guarantee was launched in November last year with the aim of protecting young people from the economic impact of Covid-19.

Under the scheme, every 16 to 24-year-old in Scotland is offered the opportunity of a job, apprenticeship, further or higher education, training programme or volunteering.

The £70m investment set out by the First Minister includes £45m for local partnerships to provide training, employer recruitment incentives, and mental health interventions for young people.

A sum of £13.5m will be allocated for colleges, universities and the Scottish Funding Council to provide industry-focussed courses, whilst there is £10m for the roll-out of new school coordinators and enhanced school provision, and £1.5m to increase places on volunteering and third sector programmes.

Speaking ahead of a visit to Young Movers, a youth charity based in Glasgow, on Wednesday, Sturgeon said the investment meets the commitments set out by the SNP in the party’s manifesto.

“We know that young people have been badly affected by the pandemic and we are determined to do everything we can to support them,” she said.

“The Young Person’s Guarantee is a vital part of that support which aims to give all young people the chance to succeed despite the economic impacts of Covid-19.

“This investment of £70m, which meets four of our 100 days commitments, will also ensure employers continue to benefit from the fresh talent and new perspectives that young people bring to workplaces across Scotland.”

Sandy Begbie, chair of the Young Person’s Guarantee Implementation Group, said: ”Inclusion was at the core of the Young Person’s Guarantee so I am particularly pleased by the increased opportunities created for young people who are furthest from the workplace.

“None of this could have been achieved without employers being engaged and I am delighted we have almost 100 employers and business groups signed up supporting the scheme.

“Our young people, who have been disproportionately impacted as a result of the pandemic, are an asset to Scotland and it has never been more important that we deliver against the Young Person’s Guarantee.”