£289,087 to boost youth arts provision in Edinburgh and the Lothians

Creative Scotland is delighted to announce £399,000 support to help boost youth arts provision in Edinburgh and the Lothians.

The funding is being announced as part of Scotland’s National Youth Arts Strategy Time To Shine and will be used to create a network of nine regional Youth Arts Hubs from a total funding package of £3.1m, across the country.

The Hubs – in Aberdeen and North East, Argyll, Ayrshire, Edinburgh, Fife, Glasgow, Highlands, Moray and West Dunbartonshire – are being formed through partnerships between local and national arts and youth services providers, to increase access to youth arts across Scotland across a range of art forms.

Out of the Blue Arts and Education Trust will work in partnership with youth and arts providers to deliver the Creative Mix/Youth Hive project – a hive of networked and staged multi-arts activity for Edinburgh and the Lothians. The Hive will build on activities currently undertaken with young people by the partners and develop and promote innovative practice in youth arts.  The project plan includes the development and creation of creative apprenticeships, traineeships and work experience opportunities for young people.

Youth Arts Hub partners for this area include The Bongo Club, Creative Electric, Red Kite Animation, Strange Town, Verden Studios, North Edinburgh Arts, Lucky Frame, Scottish Kids are Making Movies, Active Inquiry, PyroCeltica, WHALE Arts, Edinburgh City Libraries & Information Service. 

Read more on allmediascotland.com 

Limited places available at Holyrood's Apprenticeship Conference - 22nd May

Apprenticeships: Upskilling the nation and building our economy
22^nd May 2014, Our Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh

Opening Address by: Rt.Hon.Henry McLeish, Former First Minister of Scotland

Closing keynote by: Angela Constance MSP, Minister for Youth Employment, The Scottish Government

Other speakers include:
Nicki Moore, Lecturer in Career Development, International Centre for Guidance Studies, University of Derby
Damien Yeates, Chief Executive, Skills Development Scotland

For many the image of the apprentice is that of a young person who works as a plumber or a carpenter, but this is no longer the experience of many in Scotland who access the Modern Apprenticeships programme.

Nearly 36,000 people were in a Modern Apprenticeship in Scotland in March 2013 and they have been learning new skills and gaining valuable experience in subjects as diverse as biotechnology, life sciences and oil and gas extraction - areas which are already key contributors within the Scottish economy and with potential for growth.

With higher level apprenticeships offering new and exciting opportunities to upskill Scotland’s workforce and stimulate economic growth, this conference will explore how we can maximise this potential.

The conference will look at the growing skills gap in specialist sectors such as life sciences, advanced engineering, renewable energy and the oil and gas industry and the role of Modern Apprenticeships in addressing these gaps.

The day will also provide opportunities for you to discuss and debate best practice in helping all those with an interest in skills to work together to ensure that high end apprenticeships result in long term benefits for both the apprentice and the employer.

Limited places left at discounted rate of £129+VAT – please quote "APPSCOT" at our online booking site.

Last minute places available for Holyrood's Apprenticeships and Training Conference!

Apprenticeships and Training 2013: Investing in skills, people and delivering growth
19th March 2013, Our Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh

Opening Address by: Angela Constance MSP, Minister for Youth Employment, The Scottish Government

Closing keynote by: Paul McKelvie OBE, Scotland Commissioner, UK Commission for Employment and Skills

Other speakers include:
Grahame Smith, General Secretary, Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC)
Alastair Kennedy, Executive Chairman, Nigg Skills Academy and Stakeholder Relations Director, Global Energy Group
Jennifer Tempany, Head of Business Projects, Forth Valley College
Prof. Ailsa Mackay, Professor of Economics, Glasgow Caledonian University

This Holyrood conference will provide a platform for key stakeholders in the Scottish Government, skills, training and development agencies, trade unions and commercial organisations to discuss current policy and initiatives to improve essential workforce skills and show good practice of how Modern Apprentices work in action.

Limited places left at discounted rate of £129+VAT – please quote APPSCOT at our online booking site.