Providing impactful activities and input into local communities has always been important to businesses within the construction industry. Building relationships between business and education provides a way for businesses to forge powerful partnerships that will support and influence young people and their influencers to consider choosing a career in this industry.

Build Your Future has been developed by key partners across the supply chain within the Built Environment as a response to Covid restrictions challenging the way business and education have previously engaged. 

Launching the week of the 1st March 2021 to coincide with Scottish Apprenticeship Week and in support of International Women's Day which is annually celebrated on 8th March, this virtual resource is complementary to the 'Your Year, Your Career 21' (formerly 'New Year, First Career') resources.

Career insight, including films and resources, will be hosted on the DYW Scot website, available and relevant to a national audience. Alongside these resources, a toolkit for educators and parents provides guidance on how local content can add value to the national offering, this can be facilitated by schools and/or their DYW Regional Group. This toolkit can also be used by School Career, Advice & Guidance Advisors as well as parents when supporting young people to make informed decisions relating to options and choices or next steps, post school.

With contributions from over 40 partners including the Scottish Traditional Building Forum, CITB, Construction Scotland Innovation Centre, Scottish Building Standards, Scottish Futures Trust and Historic Environment Scotland amongst other industry contributors, this has been supported by DYW Forth Valley and STEM Development Officer for Stirling Council, Jayne Hamilton, to move to a virtual mode of delivery that will support the continued exposure to industry pathways and opportunities alongside the core learning taking place in schools.

We’re supporting Scottish Apprenticeship Week 2021, co-ordinated by Skills Development Scotland, to demonstrate the value apprenticeships bring to individuals, employers and the economy.

This year’s theme is Business Backing Talent, which aims to demonstrate how businesses benefit when they back talent through apprenticeships.

Businesses have adapted to challenging times. Employers and learning providers have innovated in order that apprentices can learn, achieve and progress, and businesses taking on apprentices have developed new and safe ways to recruit in their commitment to backing talent.

The week highlights both the range of support available to employers to help them take on an apprentice, as well as the opportunities for individuals to progress through Foundation, Modern and Graduate Apprenticeships.

Scottish Apprenticeships support the Young Person's Guarantee, introduced by Scottish Government to ensure that everyone aged between 16 and 24 has the opportunity of work, education or training.

For businesses who can give someone the chance of an apprenticeship, there's more support than ever before.

• The Apprentice Employer Grant provides up to £5000 to recruit an apprentice
• There’s additional funding to take on a redundant apprentice through Adopt an Apprentice
• Pathway Apprenticeships are available for school leavers not in a job or education to gain work-based learning and qualifications in sectors with skills needs

In these challenging times, apprentices can play a vital role in supporting businesses and the economy now and for the future.

Find out more about Scottish Apprenticeships and the support available to get involved at apprenticeships.scot

#ScotAppWeek21