Following the retirement of Liz Connolly FRSE as Principal & Chief Executive of West College Scotland, who in her time gave great support on the Board of DYW West from 2018, we are delighted to share that Anne Campbell, who has recently been appointed as the new Principal & Chief Executive, has joined the board.

Anne commented “I am delighted to be joining the DYW West Board. DYW West, through its extensive network of employers, provides our young people with inspirational opportunities and experiences. It is a vital part of our skills system, and I am proud to be able to contribute to its strategic direction”.

Jim Hannigan, COO at National Manufacturing Institute Scotland and chair of DYW West said “West College Scotland has been an outstanding host for DYW West since January 2016 and we are thrilled that Anne has joined the board, building on the great support Liz contributed over many years. Myself, our fellow board members and the DYW West team led by Bob Davidson look forward to working with Anne.”

On 1st August 2025, the Young Person’s Guarantee Pledge becomes the DYW Pledge.

This change is part of a national move to streamline branding and better reflect how employers work directly with Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) teams to deliver real opportunities for young people.

The DYW Pledge keeps everything that’s already working – the same pledge areas, the same flexible approach, and the same local support – under a clearer and more recognisable name.

If you had previously signed up to YPG, there’s no action required from you. Your original pledge will carry forward automatically, and your commitment remains valued and active.

If you would like assets such as the new DYW Pledge digital badge that you can use on your website or communications to showcase your support please email us at info@dywwest.co.uk.

We’re also keen to highlight employer stories as part of our new campaign – if you have a success story to share, we’d love to hear from you.

If you're interested in learning more about the DYW Pledge, please email us at info@dywwest.co.uk, we would love to hear from you!

Thank you again for playing your part in developing the young workforce.

Diodes Incorporated is currently recruiting for two exciting apprenticeship roles at their Greenock site:

• Equipment Engineering Apprentice

• Quality Engineering Apprentice

These positions offer a valuable opportunity for individuals interested in starting a career in engineering while gaining hands-on experience within a global semiconductor company.

Applicants are invited to submit their CV and a covering letter to gfabrecruitment@diodes.com 

Download the job specifications below

European Circuits recently welcomed a new team member, James Wallace, who has joined their Assembly Department shortly after completing his exams at Our Lady & St Patrick’s High School.

This is a great example of a local employer investing in the future workforce by providing meaningful employment opportunities for young people in the community. By supporting school leavers like James, European Circuits continues to demonstrate its commitment to developing the young workforce and encouraging local talent to thrive within their sector.

Congratulations to James on his new role!

Marketplace for Employers
Marketplace provides a simple way for employers to connect with schools and colleges by offering a range of activities. These can include workshops, workplace tours, skills-based sessions, work experience opportunities and more.

Marketplace for Educators
Educators can use the dedicated Marketplace section on My World of Work to bring real world industry knowledge into the classroom. The platform allows them to browse and book opportunities shared by employers, helping to enhance learning with valuable career insights.

Click here to access Marketplace

Interested in getting started with DYW?

Join us for an informative session on Tuesday 19th August, where you'll be guided through the first steps and explore the opportunities available!

Find out more and register

This week, our team delivered STEM boxes to all primary schools in Inverclyde as part of Inverclyde STEM Festival, kindly supplied by Thermo Fisher!

These boxes were packed with fun, hands-on STEM activities to inspire young learners.

A big thank you to Sheena at Thermo Fisher for arranging this fantastic resource once again!

No Wrong Path is back from 4th–8th August 2025!

This national campaign shows young people there’s no single path to success, and every journey matters.

We’re encouraging employers to get involved by sharing your team’s career stories and highlighting diverse pathways into work.

Click here to find out how you can get involved.

You can also download the campaign template and tag us in your posts 
 

Our flagship STEM West event will return on the 17th & 18th November 2025 at West College Scotland, Clydebank campus.

The aim of the event is to inspire young people to choose STEM subjects at school and give employers the chance to showcase their company or industry. Last year, we welcomed over 800 pupils from four of our local authorities (West Dunbartonshire, Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire, and Inverclyde) along with more than 50 exhibitors!

If you are an employer interested in showcasing your company and can bring along something interactive or hands on for S2–S4 pupils to engage with over the two days, then we’d love to hear from you. Even if you can only attend one of the days, it would be great to have you involved!

If you’re interested in showcasing at STEM West 2025, please click here to complete the attendance form.

Remember, this isn’t your usual careers event – we’re looking for something hands on and engaging to capture young people’s interest.

If you have any questions, please email:
clarke.speirs@dywwest.co.uk or taylor.mcateer@dywwest.co.uk

Thanks!

We recently attended Renfrewshire Connect, where we had an exhibitor table at the event and the opportunity to network with local employers and organisations.

It was a fantastic day filled with insightful talks and great conversations.