A package of support for the increased number of young people expected to leave school or college this summer was announced today by Skills Minister Keith Brown.

It includes:

* 800 vocational pathway opportunities for 16 and 17 year olds

* a £1,000 incentive for up to 2,000 employers to offer a modern apprenticeship to young people who face specific barriers to securing such an opportunity including care leavers

* a new national helpline to support those employers who can offer a young person a job, a modern apprenticeship, or a work experience opportunity

* 60 entrepreneurial training opportunities

* 750 graduate placements over the next three years

-- Advertisement --

* 1,000 volunteering opportunities

* Access to additional 5,000 all age modern apprenticeships

With around, approximately, an extra 3,000 young people expected to be entering the job market for the first time, the measures will ensure they all have the support they need, for as long as they need it, to move into long-term sustainable employment.

The announcement follows work over the past three months by the Summer Leavers Taskforce, led by the Scottish Government in partnership with Skills Development Scotland and the Scottish Funding Council.

Mr Brown said: "Our young people are our future workforce. However, recession hits them the hardest. More young people than usual stayed on at school or started college last year meaning more will leave this summer.

"We identified the challenge early on. The Summer Leavers Taskforce worked with business, councils and the voluntary sector to establish what was needed to help these young people and we have responded accordingly.

"The Scottish Government cannot create jobs but we can create the right business conditions and provide support business to create jobs. The measures we have introduced will extend this support and aim to motivate employers to offer young people an opportunity while Skills Development Scotland is signposting young people to help and advice."

(GK)