Skills for Learning, Life & Work
Developing the Young Workforce
At Loudoun Academy, we support our young people to understand the work of work, discover their own skills, strengths and interests and explore how this relates to specific job roles.
Our Developing the Young Workforce activity aims for young people to gain further understanding of how their school subjects link to their future career path so that they feel prepared to make choices for their future, whether that be leaving school to go into, whether that be training, employment, an apprenticeship, college or university.
Through DYW at Loudoun Academy, pupils can develop skills for learning, life and work by participating in various initiatives such as:
- Timetabled DYW courses, delivered in partnership with Ayrshire College – for example, DYW Cycle Maintenance or DYW Barista;
- In school work experience programmes such as those recently delivered by the RAF and our partners at Anderson Strathern Solicitors;
- Site visits to local employers such as those recently undertaken at GE Caledonian, QTS and Woodhead Farm.
- Online information and training events for industries such as Health Care and Aviation;
- Practical experience with local employers such as recent engagement with Cheryl Corrigan Nails, Meraki Therapies, TEF art and Mathieson Ltd;
- Foundation Apprenticeships delivered in partnership with the school, college and employers in a range of sectors, linked to local and national growth opportunities;
- Employer engagement events/careers fayres;
- Guest speakers, with recent representatives to the school coming from the following industries: Finance, Law, Defence, Health and Social Care as well as Hair and Beauty, to name a few; and
- Support with CV, application writing and interview preparation.
- Recently Loudoun hosted the Merck Curiosity Cube where all S1 pupils took part in three practical experiments based on contamination. Pupils were given an opportunity to be inspired to develop an interest in a STEM related career.
DYW at Loudoun Academy can help pupils facilitate a link with future employers, developing the next generation of the workforce. DYW works alongside Skills Development Scotland (SDS) and Pupil Support to engage young people in thinking about their future career paths and developing the necessary skills and connections to support them to achieve their future career ambition.
