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 

Another fantastic two days of STEM West are officially complete, and what an event it’s been!

We were blown away by the level of creativity, enthusiasm, and commitment shown by this year’s exhibitors. With more than 800 pupils attending from across our four local authority areas, over 50 employers delivered an incredible range of hands-on activities and interactive experiences (with the occasional freebie).

From 3D-printed guitars and AR headsets to LEGO builds and robotics, our young people had the chance to explore future careers in the most engaging way possible.

A huge thank you to every employer who invested their time, energy, and passion into making STEM West 2025 such a success. Your efforts make a real difference in inspiring the next generation of talent.
 

With only a few weeks to go, we're delighted to share that STEM West 25 is now at full capacity!

We have a fantastic line-up of employers ready to engage with young people and showcase their industries through hands on STEM activities.

A huge thank you to all the fantastic employers who have signed up, we can’t wait to welcome you!

This months DXC Digital Futures Academy introduced students to the power of artificial intelligence (AI) and how it can be used to protect endangered animals from poachers.

Using Google’s machine learning tools, pupils worked in teams to build and train their own AI models, racing against the clock to detect virtual wildlife crimes.

The session showcased how technology can be a force for good, inspiring young people to explore real world applications of AI while developing teamwork, problem-solving and critical thinking skills.

Thank you to all of the DXC staff for hosting this session!

This month, 60 pupils from secondary schools across West Dunbartonshire took part in Chefs Day at West College Scotland, with an exciting Travel & Tourism twist.

Students had the opportunity to experience:
✅Professional chocolate making demonstrations
✅Flavourful curry masterclasses
✅Hands on barista training
✅A cabin crew experience aboard “West Airways”

A huge thank you to the dedicated staff at West College Scotland for creating such an engaging and inspiring day for our young people. Opportunities like this give students a real taste of future career pathways in hospitality and travel.

A huge thank you to Scottish Leather Group for hosting site tours at their Bridge of Weir facility for 7 schools over 4 days as part of Renfrewshire Employability Month.

A special shout-out to Mark Cowan and Rhona Ferris for giving so much of their time and helping make this happen.

The schools selected pupils with an interest in STEM and manufacturing, and feedback from the tours was 100% positive.

Another big thank you to Emma Stockan from the Renfrewshire Council Education Team for all the logistical support.

If you’d like to get involved with DYW West, get in touch by emailing info@dywwest.co.uk

Are you looking to engage with young people but aren’t sure where to start?

DYW is offering a free online workshop on 26th November, from 10am–12pm designed to support individuals looking to engage with young people in schools, colleges, or the workplace.

During the workshop you will:

• Learn top tips for planning and delivering activities

• Boost your confidence in engaging with young people

• Make a real difference in their career journeys

This is the perfect opportunity to gain hands on guidance to help you get started.

Click here for more information and to sign up