Determined to succeed - employer recognition event

Determined to Succeed, a Scottish Government project initiated in 2003, is intended to develop enterprise, increase employability and improve pupils’ chances of success in the jobs market through the promotion of partnerships between business and education.

Over the last eight years, it has promoted work experience for pupils, business placements for teachers, enterprise activities in various forms, and the improvement of skills for work including the development of new vocational courses in schools and the revamping of existing routes from education to work.

Throughout Scotland new links between schools and business have been formed, including partnerships enabling work experience and work placements across a wide range of work-places.  The project, hopefully now embedded in the school/work transition, is coming to an end and, to mark its passing, The Highland Council has been holding a series of Employer Engagement Events throughout the Highlands.

One of the last to be held took place at the Smoo Cave Hotel in Durness on Thursday 17 March when the Council’s Acting Head of Education Services, Calum MacSween, together with Enterprise Development Officer, John Finlayson and Work Experience Coordinator, Linda King, hosted a reception for employers from the far North and West of Sutherland. The employers have provided work experience and work placements or other assistance for pupils in the Kinlochbervie High School and Farr High School catchment areas, among the most remote and sparsely peopled in the whole of the UK.

The event was attended by a handful of employers from across the area and some of the pupils who had benefited from work experience, together with teacher representatives form both High Schools. Inscribed slate mementos were presented to each of the employers.

Mr MacSween paid tribute to the high level of effort made by the employers throughout the areas served by Kinlochbervie and Farr and thanked them for their valued contribution to the vocational education of their area’s young people.