Cautious welcome as Scottish Government Minister pledges support for a "sustainable" Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) initiative after Highland business leader's intervention
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An apparent Scottish Government pledge to safeguard a threatened workplace initiative for young people has received a cautious welcome from the Inverness business leader who brought the issue to national attention.
But Chris Dowling, who serves as chairman of Inverness and Central Highlands Developing the Young Workforce (DYWICH), says it is crucial a long-term funding package is secured quickly.
Mr Dowling this week raised concerns about the “potential complete collapse” of the scheme, which has helped thousands of young Highlanders and school leavers into training and work.
A recent switch from 12 months to only six months of guaranteed funding set alarm bells ringing for Scotland’s 20 host organisations with fears some might have to begin a redundancy process for the initiative’s network of school coordinators.
Several local politicians voiced support for the initiative after the Courier highlighted Mr Dowling’s concerns.
Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey MP Drew Hendry last night revealed he had received reassurances from Graeme Dey, the Minister for Higher and Further Education, on DYW’s future.
It included a commitment to create “a sustainable working model that enabled young people to thrive long-term” through DYW.
Mr Dowling, who employs around 100 staff including DYW apprentices within his window-making firm Cairngorm Group,
“Drew Hendry was good enough to call me earlier in the week and we’ve been greatly encouraged this week by how our local politicians have got in touch and rallied behind the cause.
“Obviously, he couldn’t go into specific detail. He doesn’t want to break confidence with a colleague which is perfectly understandable.
“My comment to Drew, which he seemed to agree with, was ‘that’s fine – but we need to know what the settlement is as soon as possible’.
“That’s the urgency around this.
“There has been a lot of positive noises this week and a recognition of how valuable DYW is, but when I see some of our team later on they will want to know what is happening.
“And we need the answer to that. Drew fully understood that.
“We’re very much aware of the summer recess for the Scottish Parliament and all the different deadlines, so we do need answers now and not in three months’ time.”
Contained within Mr Hendry’s statement after talks with the Minister was a pledge to find a sustainable model of funding for DYW.
Mr Dowling believes the term should cover five years, the life of each Scottish Parliament.
He added: “That’s still my view. We understand that there would need to be caveats, but if it is the priority they say it is, why not fund it for the lifetime of the parliament?
“It is not just DYW that has this constant problem. Lots of Government programmes, affecting thousands of people across the country, are all in the same boat.
“I can’t believe any organisation, let alone the Government, works on a 12-month plan.”
Mr Hendry said: "I am heartened by the Minister's reassurances that the Scottish Government recognises the importance of the Developing Young Workforce programme in the Highlands and is committed to working with partners to ensure that our young people are given every opportunity to succeed.
"The Scottish Government has a long track record of investing in young people and has already confirmed that £4.2 billion will be spent on education and skills in Scotland in 2023/24, nearly £100 million more than last year.
"The Highland region has unique economic and workforce challenges, which I know the Minister recognises, and is keen to work with industry leaders to address.”
Minister Graeme Dey declined to comment when asked for detail on what changes to the DYW funding settlement were proposed.
