Argyll and Bute Council is celebrating continued success in supporting young people to develop skills for life and work, with new figures showing significant growth in employer engagement, work-based learning opportunities and positive post-school destinations through the Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) programme.
Councillors at the Community Services Committee considered a report highlighting the impact of DYW activity across Argyll and Bute during 2025-26, demonstrating the positive outcomes being achieved through strong partnerships between schools, employers, Skills Development Scotland, UHI Argyll, and a wide range of community and third sector organisations.
Central to the council’s ambition is ensuring every young person reaches their full potential and is supported into a positive destination, whether that is employment, training, further education, higher education or volunteering. The report shows that collaboration with external partners continues to play a crucial role in helping young people gain the skills, confidence and experience they need to succeed.
Key highlights from the report include:
- A 57.8% increase in employer and young person interactions during 2025-26 compared with the previous year.
- More than 7,300 interactions between employers and young people across Argyll and Bute schools.
- A 66% increase in the number of employers engaging with young people, rising to 305 employers.
- 449 work placements undertaken by young people across the area’s secondary schools.
- 413 young people identified as disengaged or vulnerable receiving targeted support to build confidence and employability skills, an increase of 170 on the previous year.
- Argyll and Bute ranked 10th out of Scotland’s 32 local authorities for participation among 16 to 19-year-olds, with a participation rate of 94.6%.
- An increase in school leaver follow-up positive destinations to 92.5%, up 1.6% from the previous year.
The report also highlights the success of Flexible Learning Plans, which provide tailored opportunities for young people who may face barriers to engagement in school. All the 52 plans in place during 2025-26, resulted in positive outcomes, with many young people progressing into employment, apprenticeships or training.
Councillor Kieron Green, Policy Lead for Education, said:
“We want every young person in Argyll and Bute to reach their true potential and leave school with the confidence, skills and opportunities they need to achieve a positive destination.
“The success of Developing the Young Workforce shows what can be achieved when schools, employers and partner organisations work together with a shared commitment to supporting our young people.
“We are extremely grateful to DYW Argyll and Bute, local businesses and our many external partners who continue to create meaningful opportunities for young people across our communities. From work placements and apprenticeships to careers events and employability programmes, these partnerships are helping young people develop their ambitions and build successful futures right here in Argyll and Bute.
“By continuing to strengthen these relationships and create new opportunities, we can ensure even more young people are equipped to thrive in the world of work and contribute to the future success of our area.”
