Scotland's Top Youth Employer

New Award highlights employers supporting young people into work.

Burn Stewart Distillers has been named Scotland’s top employer for working with young people. 

The Youth Employer of the Month Award has recently been launched by Skills Development Scotland (SDS) to recognise the efforts of businesses across Scotland who are helping to support young people into work.

Burn Stewart’s bottling plant in East Kilbride has recently taken on five Modern Apprentices from the successful Tasty Jobs initiative.

The pilot programme, developed in partnership with SDS and South Lanarkshire College, gives young people the opportunity to experience working in the food and drink industry.

Burn Stewart has hired five of the young people who completed the programme, who are now undertaking an MA in Food Manufacturing Excellence with the company.

In the coming year, the Youth Employer of the Month Award will recognise a wide range of businesses, large and small from across Scotland, for their particular contribution to supporting young people in to work.

HR Manager at Burn Stewart Distillers, Bill Portfield, said: "Burn Stewart is delighted to have won this award - the best aspect of this project is seeing our young people develop, build self confidence and gain the ability to communicate and engage with staff at all levels.

"I am sure all the employees involved will benefit from having the opportunity to set the foundations which will allow young people to build a career in any workplace or industry they may choose to join in the future."

SDS's Strategic Relations Manager for Food and Drink, Gerry McBride, added: "Burn Stewart has shown a willingness to become a champion for young people and is a fantastic example for other employers in all industry sectors.

"They also recognised they face the challenge of an aging workforce and saw the value of giving young people this opportunity."

Chairman of SDS, John McClelland CBE, added: "Over the past few years we have made real progress in boosting youth employment figures in Scotland and the Youth Employer of the Month Award is our way of thanking employers for supporting these efforts.

"Every business is different, and it's not necessarily about the quantity of young people they have given an opportunity to - it's about the quality of that company's particular contribution to helping young people onto the job ladder."

For more information and support for employers visit www.ourskillsforce.co.uk.