Interested in engaging with young people but not sure where to begin? Join DYW's free online “Get Started with DYW” webinar.

🗓 11th March
⏰ 9am–11am
💻 Online & free to attend

This practical session will help you:
✅️ Understand how DYW benefits your organisation and young people
✅️ Explore the types of activities you can offer
✅️ Build confidence in engaging with schools
✅️ Access resources to support your involvement

Register here

Another fantastic two weeks of GROW, featuring a great range of engaging sessions delivered by an excellent mix of employers.

Host employers and participating schools included:

Braehead Shopping Centre - Woodfarm & Mearns Castle
AC Whyte - St Stephens & Port Glasgow High School
Arnold Clark – Paisley Grammar
Open Reach – Glennifer High School
MacTaggart Contstruction – Dumbarton Academy
Elderpark Housing Association – Vale of Leven
Caledonia Training Centre – Woodfarm High School
Glasgow Chamber of Commerce - St Stephens & Port Glasgow High School
Morrison Construction – Paisley Grammar
GRID, Braehead – Gleniffer High School

A huge thank you to all the schools and businesses involved for their continued support and commitment.

Pupils stepped into the role of Threat Response Analysts at DXC's Digital Futures Academy, gaining hands-on insight into the world of cyber security.

Supported by a subject matter expert from Tanium, they explored how real cyber professionals identify, investigate and respond to security threats. From analysing unusual activity to working through guided lab exercises using real tools and processes, students experienced what it’s truly like to work in a modern Cyber Security Team.

This was a fantastic opportunity to build critical thinking, problem-solving skills and awareness of careers in cyber security.

Thank you again to everyone at DXC and Tanium for this fantastic session!

We had the pleasure of attending the Grand Final of Turbine Taskforce – Uniting Society and Sustainability at NMIS.

Funded by the Royal Academy of Engineering and led by Kirsty Pinnell, this inspiring STEM outreach project challenged S1–S3 pupils from schools across Inverclyde, East Glasgow and Renfrewshire to repurpose retired wind turbine blades in ways that would benefit their local communities.

After progressing through competitive heats, the finalist teams (St Columba's High School, Linwood High School & St Andrew's RC) returned to present refined concepts, prototypes and 3D models to an audience and judging panel. The creativity, confidence and innovation on display was exceptional.

Congratulations to the winners from St Columba's High School. Every team should be incredibly proud!

We are currently planning for Scottish Apprenticeship Week, taking place from 2nd–6th March 2026. This is a fantastic opportunity for your organisation to showcase your apprenticeship pathways and highlight the routes into your company or sector.

We are inviting employers to support our social media campaign during the week.

As part of this, we’re offering an apprenticeship photo opportunity. To take part, simply send us a photo of your apprentices along with your company logo. We’ll feature these across our social media platforms throughout the week. Alternatively, you can tag DYW West in your own Scottish Apprenticeship Week posts. (You can find links to all DYW West social media platforms by clicking here.)

If you would like to get involved, please email info@dywwest.co.uk.

Babcock are hosting a Creating Futures - Apprentice Careers Event at West College Scotland (Clydebank Campus), on 18th February, 10am–12pm.

This is a great opportunity to discover over 30 different apprenticeship pathways that can lead to an exciting future and inspire you to take the next step in your career journey.

Whether you're finishing school, exploring your options, or thinking about what's next, this event is designed to help you learn more and make informed choices about your future.

Register now and secure your spot!

The first two weeks of the GROW Programme have been a great success, with local pupils participating in a range of engaging and informative events delivered by a range of fantastic employers. These sessions provided valuable insight into different industries and helped pupils develop their understanding of future career pathways.

Host employers and participating schools included:

Rolls-Royce - Dumbarton Academy
Sea Life - Vale of Leven Academy
Scottish Ambulance Service - Woodfarm, Mearns Castle & Vale of Leven Academy
CVS Inverclyde - St Stephens High School & Port Glasgow High School
River Clyde Homes - Paisley Grammar School
Glasgow Chamber of Commerce - Glennifer High School
Terumo Aortic - Paisley Grammar School
AC Whyte - Glennifer High School
GRID Braehead - Dumbarton Academy
Braehead Housing - Woodfarm & Mearns Castle
NMIS - St Stephens High School & Port Glasgow High School
 

We would like to thank all schools and employers involved for their continued support in making the GROW Programme such a positive experience for young people.

We are currently seeking employers to support the delivery of our “Apprentice for a Day” initiative across East Renfrewshire and Inverclyde during Scottish Apprenticeship Week (first week of March 2026), following the success of the programme in Renfrewshire last year. (See news article below.)

This initiative gives senior phase pupils the opportunity to spend a day in the workplace, shadowing an apprentice and gaining a real insight into apprenticeship pathways. We are particularly keen to involve employers offering apprenticeship frameworks that do not require Highers, but are accessible through National 4 or 5 qualifications.

We are looking for:
7 employers in East Renfrewshire
8 employers in Inverclyde

If you are interested in participating then please email info@dywwest.co.uk

Renfrewshire SAW 25 Article

We are planning for Scottish Apprenticeship Week which takes place between 2^nd-6^th March 2026. This is a great opportunity for your organisation to showcase your apprenticeship pathways into your company/sector.

We are looking for employers to support either of the following activities:

1. Social media campaign - Apprenticeship photo opportunity. To take part please send us a picture of your apprentices and your logo. This picture will then be used on our social media platforms throughout SAW week or tag us on our social media platforms. (You can find a link to all DYW West socials here - https://buff.ly/nSG1R3f)
2. Talks & Tour of your company with school pupils - Would you be interested in hosting a talk and tour of your workplace for any of our local schools. Transport will be covered by schools. 

Finally, International Woman’s Day (Sunday 8^th March 2026) also falls on the same week as Scottish Apprenticeship Week. If you would like to focus any social media/ talks or tours on this, please let us know.

If you are interested in participating in any of the above then please let us know by Friday 23rd January 2026 by emailing info@dywwest.co.uk.

One of Scotland’s largest regional employability programmes has been officially launched following a £1 million skills investment by JPMorganChase.

Glasgow Regional Opportunities for Work (GROW) will be delivered by Glasgow Chamber of Commerce in partnership with DYW ( Developing the Young Workforce ) Glasgow, DYW LED and DYW West. It will support over 700 young people, delivering over 40,000 hours of work experience through co-ordinated site visits across the Glasgow City Region. The GROW project will seek to engage with 250 employers across the digital technology sector, renewable energy, housing, finance, hospitality, creative industries and health, all vital to Glasgow’s growing economy.

GROW is a bespoke devolved regional skills programme, which is business led and reflects the skills gaps and opportunities which are most appropriate to Glasgow’s economy. The programme aims to increase the career readiness of young people from lower socio-economic background through multiple exposure to, and engagement with, employers to help them make informed decisions about their future.

The £1 million support is part of JPMorganChase’s broader £40 million UK business and philanthropic commitment to drive inclusive economic growth, aiming to transform access to work experience, for those furthest from the labour market.

JPMorganChase support for GROW follows its partnership with the Careers & Enterprise Company (CEC), the national body for careers education in England, focused on supporting young people facing barriers to progression to make informed decisions about careers, build employability skills, and remain in education or training.  GROW serves as one of JPMorganChase’s flagship skills initiatives in Scotland and will work to connect secondary students from low income and disadvantaged backgrounds to work experience to develop their work-readiness skills.

The program builds on findings and recommendations from the OECD report “Future-Proofing the Skills System in the Glasgow City Region”, supported by JPMorganChase, to strengthen the school to work transition for young people. GROW seeks to help close these gaps and increase the career readiness of young people from areas of higher deprivation.

Alison McRae, Senior Director at Glasgow Chamber of Commerce and co-chair of Glasgow’s Employment and Skills Board said: “This is a defining moment for Glasgow City region’s future workforce and a great example of devolved regional skills funding in action.

“GROW will specifically target our hardest to reach communities, delivering a two-year programme with 13 points of engagement to inspire, prepare and connect young people with business opportunities.

“It is a hugely ambitious initiative that exemplifies Glasgow’s forward-thinking approach and unwavering commitment to building a capable, driven and inclusive workforce.”

Gillian McLennan, Managing Director Leading Capital Management Technology, JPMorganChase UK said: “We are investing in skills and training to help young people access greater career opportunities, because we think engaged labour force participation is a critical element of the strong economy that benefits Scottish businesses.

“Our continued investments will support the UK’s increased focus on boosting skills and pathways to quality careers.”

For more info/to get involved in GROW please visit www.dywwest.co.uk/grow