Edinburgh Guarantee
Edinburgh Council Chief Executive, Sue Bruce, held discussions with leading figures from business yesterday to raise awareness and business engagement in the Edinburgh Guarantee.
Sue Bruce, who is also The Prince’s Ambassador for Scotland, hosted the round table discussion which was sponsored by Virgin Money, to look at a collaborative approach to increasing employment opportunities for young people. Those participating included a wide range of representatives from business including Virgin Money, Halcrow, Scottish Government, Nairns, FSB, CBI and others and was chaired by Professor Alice Brown.
The Edinburgh Guarantee was launched in response to rising levels of youth unemployment with reports showing that over 500 young people left Edinburgh schools last year without a positive destination.
The Edinburgh Guarantee is an initiative driven by the Council in partnership with business and colleges, which seeks to increase the number of jobs, education and training opportunities being made available to young people.
Sue Bruce, Chief Executive Edinburgh City Council said: “The Council is determined to tackle this issue by working collaboratively with public, private and voluntary sector partners across the city to generate sufficient new opportunities to enable all young people in Edinburgh to leave school into a positive destination.
“As part of the Guarantee elected members have supported the aim to create new apprenticeships within the Council using existing Modern Apprentice Framework and provide eighty new training places offering support and work experience for young people. It is imperative that local and national employers engage with this initiative and we welcome the support from Scottish Business in the Community.”
Scottish Business in the Community is working with Edinburgh City Council to deliver twenty full time or part time jobs or apprenticeships and a total of fifty mentors to young people supporting the transition to work.
The Prince of Wales Ambassador in Scotland Award is presented by Scottish Business in the Community annually to an individual whose leadership and commitment to responsible business has resulted in changes and improvements inside their own organisation, and who has also inspired others to take action. The initial award was made to Sue Bruce by HRH The Prince of Wales in June 2010 and repeated in June 2011.
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For further information on the round table discussion please contact:
Angela Bonney
Scottish Business in the Community
(0131) 451 1100
