MP for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey, Drew Hendry, has welcomed reassurances from Scottish Government Minister Graeme Dey about the priority given to young people in the development of the Highland region.
Following a recent discussion with the Minister for Higher and Further Education about the ongoing concerns about the lack of security around the DYW funding in the region, Mr Hendry expressed his gratitude for the Minister’s reassurances that the Scottish Government remains steadfastly committed to investing in the futures of young people across the region.
During the discussion, Minister for Higher and Further Education Graeme Dey highlighted the importance of the Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) scheme in this commitment. He confirmed that the Government would continue working closely with Developing Young Workforce Inverness and Central Highlands (DYWICH) to create a sustainable working model that enables young people to thrive long-term.
Drew Hendry commented,
“I am heartened by the Minister’s reassurances that the Scottish Government recognises the importance of the Developing Young Workforce Programme in the Highlands and is committed to working with partners to ensure that our young people are given every opportunity to succeed.
“The Scottish Government has a long track record of investing in young people and has already confirmed that £4.2 billion will be spent on education and skills in Scotland in 2023/24, nearly £100m more than last year.
“The Highland region has unique economic and workforce challenges, which I know the Minister recognises, and he is keen to work with industry leaders to address.
“By placing young people at the heart of our development, we can create a vibrant, skilled workforce that will drive our regional economy and contribute to Scotland’s overall economic health.”
“As the MP for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch & Strathspey, I will continue to work with the Scottish Government and DYWICH to ensure that the region’s young people have access to the opportunities they deserve.”
The discussions between Mr Dey and Mr Hendry followed communications from Mr Hendry and regional leaders, highlighting the challenges faced by DYWICH following the recent announcement that their funding model was changed from a twelve-month commitment to a six-month commitment.