The north-east roll-out is under way for a scheme aimed at building stronger partnerships between Scottish employers and education.
Skills Development Scotland (SDS) piloted the Marketplace initiative in central Scotland.
It was initially launched in Edinburgh, Midlothian and East Lothian before yesterday’s north-east launch at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Aberdeen.
About 70 representatives from local businesses and schools attended the event, which could prove pivotal in transforming support for young people moving into the world of work.
The online platform –developed by SDS in partnership with Developing Scotland’s Young Workforce (DYW) groups – allows businesses to easily connect with schools and colleges, and help shape their future workforces.
Marketplace is expected to deliver many new examples of firms hosting workshops, talks, workplace visits and placements, all of which build young people’s job readiness and increase their career options.
Schools can use it to invite employers to career sessions and other events, while for students it is expected to help bring their studies to life by giving them a flavour of the kind of skills, knowledge and qualities companies are looking for.
DYW north-east Scotland director James Bream said: “Marketplace is a direct result of the Scottish Government’s commission for developing the young workforce recommendation around the need for more meaningful partnerships and stronger engagement between education and employers.
“Research done by Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce in 2013 showed that both employers and schools wanted an online platform where businesses could highlight their willingness to work with local schools, and for schools to see what businesses were keen to work with them. Marketplace can make those connections happen.”
SDS service development and delivery director Neville Prentice added: “By working in partnership we have been able to develop Marketplace into a tool that can be used by education and businesses across Aberdeen city and shire.
“Marketplace will continue to be developed to benefit more and more young people, employers and the economy across Scotland. The overall aim is to bring employers and young people closer together – connecting young talent with opportunities.”
Meanwhile, the chairman of an organisation which promotes engineering as a career option for young people will give university students an insight into a major oil and gas industry project at a free seminar in Aberdeen next week.
Ollie Folayan, who heads up AFBE-UK Scotland, will deliver the presentation on upgrade work at the St Fergus gas terminal, near Peterhead, at the Robert Gordon University (RGU) engineering school event at RGU’s Garthdee campus on Wednesday.
“I’m looking forward to sharing with students my experiences of a complex project that was safely and successfully executed,” he said.