Young Scot Awards 2014

Shannen Scott (21) was selected as a finalist for the enterprise category in the Sunday Mail Young Scot Awards check out her full video by clicking here!

Don't miss out on the highlight show of the Young ScotAwards 2014! Make sure you tune into STV at 9pm on Thursday 17th April

Don't miss out! - Young Scot Awards 2014

Everything you need to know about the Young Scot Awards 2014!

Can I still get tickets and how much are they?
Yes, but you’ll need to be quick!

If you want to grab one before Thursday go to the ticketSOUP website. Young Scot cardholders can get a £5 discount (£30).

Make sure you select the option to collect your tickets at the Box Office at the SECC.

What celebs are going?
What a line-up we have for you!

We have the lovely Elyar Fox and Nicholas McDonald, who will be performing on the night, but we also have a celebrity guest list as long as our arm, who will be attending to support our amazing finalists.

To name a few; Union J, Helen Flanagan, the casts of TOWIE, Waterloo Road, River City and Made in Chelsea, Grado, Ricky Burns, Mark Angels, Andy Murray’s mum Judy are all coming along, plus loads more!

Can I go to the red carpet?
Yes, we’re having a red carpet from 5.30pm onwards and yes, you can come along to cheer on our finalists and do some celeb watching!

Please note that though the celebrity guests have been announced, we cannot make any assurances that will 100% guarantee they’re able to make it on the night or whether they will walk down the red carpet (this is entirely up to their management).

What’s happening at the Crowne Plaza?
The dinner at the Crowne Plaza is for invited guests only. This is for Award sponsors, finalists, corporate guests and any celebs.

The best part of the night is the awards show itself and if you’re lucky enough to have a ticket then you’re going to have an amazing night!

What time does the Awards Show start?
We’d encourage you to be there at the Clyde Auditorium from 8.00pm because the show will start at 8.30pm (and not a minute later!)

And... we’re on the telly!
If you’re not able to attend then not to worry, because all of the highlights will be shown on STV at 9pm on the 17th April – we’ve already set it to record!

Follow the hashtag #YSAwards14 to find out the latest info and check out live tweets from the night!

Got a question? Call us for free on 0808 801 0338.

Please note that celebrity guests are subject to change and though we apologise for any inconvenience in this case, Young Scot cannot be held responsible.

Shannen is a trailblazer!

Shannen Scott (21) is the first young person in Scotland to complete an Apprenticeship in Enterprise and will receive her qualification at a ceremony in the European Commission on 18th March 2014. Shannen will also showcase her journey and social enterprise to the European Apprenticeships Alliance on the same day.

It’s all go! Shannen received the exciting news that she has been selected as a finalist for the Enterprise category in the Sunday Mail Young Scot Awards 2014. The awards ceremony will take place on 10th April in the SECC Clyde Auditorium in Glasgow.

To cap it all off, Shannen pitched her journey and the opportunity to Fife Council who have announced that they will support another 19 young people to follow in her footsteps and take on an Apprenticeship in Enterprise as part of their commitment to expanding and innovating youth opportunity provision and creating a culture of enterprise in Fife.

To find out more and keep up to date with Apprenticeships in Enterprise visit their website on www.apprenticeshipsinenterprise.com

If you want to chat with Shannen about her journey, contact her via email on Shannen@careerstudio.co.uk

#yearoftheapprentice #InternationalWomensDay

Education to Employment Conference 2013 - LAST CHANCE

Education to Employment Conference 2013

November 26th, 09:00 - 15:45

The Beardmore Hotel and Conference Centre

Last chance to book your place at Skills Development Scotland's Education to Employment conference!

"Scotland needs and has the potential to secure a highly educated, skilled and well motivated young workforce able to compete with any in Europe and ensure Scottish business and industry grows in stature at home and abroad."

Commission for Developing Scotland’s Young Workforce, Interim Report

Objectives
The recent publication of the Wood Commission’s Interim Report sets the backdrop for this event. The agenda for the day will provide opportunities for attendees to:

• Explore the global challenges being faced by those leading and managing the transition from education to employment
• Engage in constructive discussion around what currently works in Scotland and why it works - from the perspective of education providers, employers and young people
• Gain a deeper understanding of the interim findings of the Wood Commission

Audience
The conference has been specifically designed for those concerned with the policy and practices surrounding education to employment for young people including:

• Those involved in the provision of education for young people
• Those involved in the employment of young people
• Third sector organisations working with young people at the transition point between formal education and the workforce

Programme
The conference has been structured around a number of short presentations and expert panel inputs designed to develop a better understanding of the challenges and stimulate lively group discussions.

The day will have three component parts:

• Part 1: The global challenges
• Part 2: Emerging Scottish solutions
• Part 3: Looking Ahead - The Wood Commission Interim Report

To attend this fantastic conference and have your say, please click here.

Inspiring Youth Enterprise Grant Winners Announced Today!

RBS Inspiring Enterprise has today announced the winners of the latest round of Youth Enterprise grant funding. Over 200 organisations submitted applications for funding to run programmes for young people, from which 12 winners have been selected across the UK.

The grant applications were submitted on-line and winners were chosen by a judging panel which included a public vote, that more than 7,000 people took part in. The winners include a variety of programmes such as access to training, mentoring and support, skills and knowledge development, and building the skills necessary to start up and survive in business.

You can view the 12 winning organisations here.

Thom Kenrick, Head of Sustainability Programmes, RBS Group said; "We are delighted to support 12 more organisations with this round of Inspiring Youth Enterprise funding.  Once again we were hugely impressed by the depth and breadth of the enterprise support that's available for the UK's young people. RBS is committed to unlocking, supporting and nurturing entrepreneurial talent and we believe these organisations will help us achieve that goal."

RBS Inspiring Youth Enterprise has been designed to encourage more young people to explore enterprise, build their skills, start up and succeed in business. RBS is making £500,000 of grants available every year for the next three years. The grants will go to organisations who support young people (13-30 year olds) through dedicated enterprise programmes.

For more information on their grant funding process, please watch their video here.

The Young Innovators Challenge Inspires Scotland's Youth

BUDDING young entrepreneurs in Scotland are being given the chance to get ahead in a unique business start-up competition with a £300,000 prize fund.

The Young Innovators Challenge – run by Scottish Institute for Enterprise (SIE) on behalf of the Scottish Government – is a national competition which will challenge18-24 year olds to come up with solutions to a range of issues currently facing Scotland’s key industries. 

To get the creative juices flowing those looking to enter are encouraged to sign up for one of four Challenge Labs taking place in Inverness, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen in February which will give them the best chance possible of winning one of the six cash prizes up for grabs.

During the Challenge Labs participants will view videos explaining each of the industry challenges being set by industry leaders. The sessions will also offer...READ MORE

Apprenticeship in Enterprise launched – A First for Scotland

Scotland's first Apprenticeship in Enterprise has been launched this week in Fife. The qualification is being piloted by Cupar business, the Career Studio.

Founder of the Career Studio and Careers Adviser, Ronnie Davidson, who hosted the launch commented:  “Enterprise apprenticeships are a great way for employers to bring young people into a business because the apprentices quickly develop an emotional investment in what they are doing. An enterprise apprenticeship is not just about going to work, it’s about learning how to develop new opportunities and influence the business you are working in.”

He added:  “As Scotland’s first and only SFEDI (Small Firms Enterprise Development Initiative) Awards Centre we are really excited to be developing the scheme and piloting with three young people in our own business. This would not have been possible without the support of our partners at Fife Council through the Culture of Enterprise Initiative.”

Councillor Kay Carrington, Fife Council’s executive member for Business, Enterprise, Economy & Planning welcomed the new apprenticeship and said:  “This is an excellent day for the Career Studio and a great milestone for Fife as a pilot Modern Apprenticeship is launched for Enterprise in Cupar. It’s wonderful to see such enthusiasm and commitment to take forward this new and significant qualification.”

Fife Council’s Enterprise, Planning and Protective Services, on behalf of the Fife Economy Partnership launched its Culture of Enterprise Framework back in May 2009.  The framework provides a blueprint for creating a vibrant enterprise culture in Fife and it’s recognised that to develop this culture requires the early engagement of young people.

Fife Council is particularly keen to engage with secondary schools and to find innovative ways of supporting and linking education and business to embed an enterprising culture across the wider Fife population.

Creating a vibrant enterprise culture in Fife will help address underlying enterprise weaknesses in Fife’s business base and encourage sustainable economic growth.

The partnership is actively embedding actions that will tie in with the overarching Culture of Enterprise Action Plan.  This plan strives to improve the achievement and attainment for young people, pupils, students and returning adults as well as improving enterprise and employability skills. 

Heather Gray: Helping Young Entrepreneurs is Good Way to Create Jobs

John Swinney’s announcement of a new £1 million Dragons’ Den-style fund for entrepreneurs is another sign that the Scottish Government, along with the private sector, recognises the need to support budding entrepreneurs who create jobs and growth.

This strategy has the capacity to pay dividends if used to support our young business leaders.

The Prince’s Trust Scotland fully supports this investment. We must harness the growth of interest from young Scots keen to get their business ideas off the starting block. In every community in Scotland the trust is working with vital partners in Business Gateway, Scottish Enterprise and the private sector to provide a unique blend of business start-up support. With more than 1,000 volunteers, focused programs, grants and seedcorn finance, the trust and its partners are inspiring this enterprise generation to create the young businesses Scotland needs for tomorrow. READ MORE

Drive for More Jobs in Dumbarton and Vale Through Apprenticeships

The drive to get more people from Dumbarton and the Vale back into work has started.

But last week the area's politicians insisted they were working flat out to get people back to work and said action is being taken to build schools, which will create jobs, and to increase apprenticeships.

There is also hope of introducing an enterprise zone to encourage new business start-ups. READ MORE

'Young people' drive fall in unemployment

BBC Video explains how young people are driving the recent fall in unemployment! READ MORE

New incubators support digital start ups in Glasgow

Glasgow is aiming to encourage the next generation of digital entrepreneurs through the launch of two new incubators in the city later this week.                           

The 1,700 sq ft Creative Clyde Business Incubation Centre, located at Pacific Quay and another new Digital Enterprise Glasgow incubator in the University of Glasgow's Thomson building will provide rent free office space, a mix of intensive business support and a nurturing environment to accelerate business growth.

Between them, the two new incubators aim to work with over 100 new companies over the next three years.

They are the latest in a network of six incubators established by Digital Enterprise Glasgow, a project of Glasgow City Council. READ MORE

How to become your own boss

Ever wanted to swap the day job for running your own business? It is more achievable than we think, says entrepreneur and founder of Innocent Drinks Richard Reed.

"If you have ever organised a wedding or a holiday for a group of friends you have got what it takes to set up a business," says Reed, who founded his company in 1998 with two friends from Cambridge University.

"It's just about getting a group of people to do a certain number of tasks in a certain amount of time for a certain amount of money. It's like organising a wedding without having to have arguments with the in-laws about what colour the serviettes are." READ MORE