A £6.5m package of support for young people
and employers, backed by the European Social Fund, has been
announced by Skills Minister Keith Brown.
The measures come amid an expected increase in the number of
school and college leavers this summer.
Skills Development Scotland will lead on a campaign called 'Step
Forward Scotland', which will help businesses support people aged
16-19 by offering the opportunity of a job, Modern Apprenticeship
or work experience placement.
The initiative includes a new employer helpline - 0800 783 6000
- to support those employers helping launch a young person's
career.
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 need the public, private and voluntary sectors to step
forward and help us to help young people become the future
workforce and economic success we know they can be."
Damien Yeates, Chief Executive, Skills Development Scotland
said: "Scotland's economy is showing a return to growth. Although
this is positive news, economic recovery is fragile and there is a
continued need to upgrade the Scottish skills base by supporting
businesses and individuals.
"Step Forward Scotland, delivered by Skills Development
Scotland, is a support package of incentives and offers available
to employers to encourage recruitment of young people.
"We need employers to identify how they can help and, as part of
this package, there is a new employer helpline to help them do
this.