Money

Young Person’s Guarantee is crucial for Covid recovery: SFE chief



Scottish Financial Enterprise (SFE) chief executive Sandy Begbie has urged business to get behind the Young Person’s Guarantee.

Speaking at the start of Scottish Apprenticeship Week, he said the trade body for financial services was looking at how it can collectively support the scheme.

The Young Person’s Guarantee aims to give every 16 to 24 year-old in Scotland the chance of a job, apprenticeship, training, further education or volunteering.

It was launched in response to Covid-19 last November and has so far developed around 18,000 new opportunities for young people.

Begbie, who led the development of the Young Person’s Guarantee, said: “I believe no one should be left behind because of this pandemic, especially young people whose employment prospects have been hit in particular, and it’s absolutely vital that business backs talent and invests in today’s generation.

“It’s heartening to see SFE member firms already backing the Young Person’s Guarantee, however I think we can do more as an industry and we will be looking at how we can collectively support the scheme.”

The SFE is supporting the Scottish Apprenticeship Awards this Thursday night, with three apprentices working in SFE member firms named as finalists.

They are Ciara Phillips of Morgan Stanley, David Scott of Aviva and Nicole Wallace of Standard Life Aberdeen.

Mary Pender, global head of talent development at Standard Life Aberdeen, said: “Apprentices bring fresh thinking and new skills to businesses throughout the financial services community, as well as helping to build the next generation of leaders.

“The objectives of the Young Person’s Guarantee chime closely with SLA’s central message of ‘together we invest for a better future’ and while the immediate future remains unpredictable, investing in young people as they start their careers remains more important than ever.”

Ian Hanson, financial services sector manager at Skills Development Scotland, added: “The focus on the Young Person’s Guarantee by the industry is hugely welcomed and acknowledges the role financial services businesses will play in ensuring that Scotland’s young people continue to have opportunities to grow in this vibrant sector.

“As we begin Scottish Apprenticeship Week and celebrate achievements at the awards – not least those from this industry – on Thursday, it’s a timely reminder of the breadth of pathways into financial services, and at the same time, underlines the benefits work-based learning brings to both employers and individuals.”

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