Caithness business leader says funding changes to employment scheme have created 'significant uncertainty' about its future
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Funding changes to a Scottish Government initiative which helps young people get jobs and training have created "significant" uncertainty about the future of the scheme, according to a Caithness business leader.
Trudy Morris, the chief executive of the Caithness Chamber of Commerce, said the guaranteed funding for Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) network has been cut from 12 to six months in this financial year. The changes were "completely unexpected".
She described the initiative as "vital" for young people in the Highlands and said the funding concerns have been raised with Scottish Government ministers. However, Ms Morris stressed that DYW North Highland, which covers Caithness and Sutherland, has "no redundancy plans at this stage" and remains committed to the project. "It is very much business as usual at this moment in time," she said.
Ms Morris explained that Caithness Chamber, along with Inverness and Lochaber Chamber, as host organisations, has delivered the DYW programme in Highland schools since it began over eight years ago and has provided activities to 3300 pupils from primary five to S6 across the north Highland region.
"We believe our involvement has, and continues to be, the reason DYW has been so successful within Highland to the benefit of our young people.
"The programme has, since the outset, been funded on an annual basis through a grant from the Scottish Government. While this has presented ongoing challenges in terms of recruitment and retention of staff, we have successfully delivered the programme to the changing Scottish Government targets. The offer of only six-month funding for this financial year was completely unexpected and has introduced a significant level of additional uncertainty for all of our staff and the young people we serve. We have been in ongoing dialogue with the Scottish Government officials since the grant letter was received in an effort to resolve the situation."
Ms Morris added: "We have no redundancy plans at this stage for any of our staff involved in the delivery of the programme, although everyone involved has always been aware of the programme’s reliance on Scottish Government funding."
She pointed out that one of the key recommendations from a report commissioned by Scottish Government was that it "establishes a long-term funding stream for DYW, linked to a stronger strategic approach."
Ms Morris added: "We will continue to do all that we can to ensure the ongoing delivery of this programme which is vital for our region’s young people and the employer community we represent. We remain committed to DYW and delivering for our young people and for us it is very much business as usual at this moment in time."
Jamie Stone, the Lib Dem MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, said: "The Scottish Government's decision to cut funding for the DYW after six months is highly concerning and points towards a much more deeply rooted problem.
"Young people are the future of this country, and I'm worried that the Scottish Government are considering cuts for that generation first. The youth cannot become collateral damage of the SNP's mishandlings.
"The Scottish Government needs to put its people before pride. It's past time they sat down and worked with the UK government and found a proper solution to this problem."
Maree Todd, the Caithness, Sutherland and Ross MSP, said "a record high number" of young people are in work, training, or further study after leaving school since the adoption of the initiative in 2014.
The SNP MSP said: "The scheme is valued across my constituency, where it has successfully supported young folk in developing their skills and qualifications. I know the Scottish Government is firmly committed to building on the success of the DYW programme and to expanding the opportunities available to young people.
"I am aware, however, of the immediate challenges currently facing the DYW network as future funding has not yet been confirmed. I have recently written to Graeme Dey, the minister for higher and further education to ask that clarity is offered as soon as possible to reassure the DYW network," she added.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: "We have prioritised the release of funding in 2023 and we will continue to work with the network to give clarity on funding as soon as we can."
The funding changes come as cuts to Skills Development Scotland’s budget threaten a 25 per cent reduction in the number of Modern Apprenticeship starts registered by the University of the Highlands and Islands for 2023/24.
