Join Scottish Careers Week this November and help encourage the next generation into roles that will support the transition to net zero.
Returning from 13-17 November, the national campaign will feature events across Scotland in schools, career centres and community locations, with many opportunities for employers to get involved.
Now in its third year and using the theme ‘Shape the Future’, Scottish Careers Week aims to raise awareness of the career services and opportunities available to people of all ages and across all communities in Scotland.
Delivered by Skills Development Scotland (SDS) and a range of national and local partners, the campaign has also focussed on responding to the climate emergency since the inaugural week in 2021.
Organisations across Scotland have supported this ambition, taking part in events to promote green careers, and last year included the publication of the report ‘Green Jobs in Scotland: An inclusive approach to definition, measurement and analysis’.
The report found that demand for green jobs is increasing in Scotland, with existing jobs transforming to reflect Scotland’s just transition to net zero, and green jobs offering higher-than-average salaries.
It also found that women are under-represented in green jobs in Scotland, with 27.8% of the roles held by women and 72.2% by men, and more than a quarter of all green jobs in Scotland that already exist will need extra skills or additional learning.
Organisations with green job opportunities could use the report’s findings to shape their future workforce and provide career inspiration to people through work placements, workplace visits, or mentoring during the campaign.
The new Scottish Careers Week toolkit (sds.co.uk/SCW23-toolkit) provides more detail on how organisations can get involved, including supporting activities in schools and local communities, or using the week to encourage your current workforce to train and upskill for their career development.
Sharon McIntyre, SDS’s Head of CIAG Operations, said: “Employers across Scotland have been crucial to the success of our Scottish Careers Week campaigns, and we hope to welcome many more this year to host and support events which encourage people to explore exciting career opportunities.
“However, whilst responding to the climate emergency is a focus for us during Scottish Careers Week, we are also delivering this campaign during a time where people are facing a cost-of-living crisis, advancing technologies are changing how we work and the type of work we do, and demographic shifts from our ageing population brings challenges.
“All of this is driving our activity during Scottish Careers Week and demonstrates why it’s more important than ever for us all to help people understand the opportunities and career support available to make positive choices.”
Expert SDS Careers Advisers support people in every state secondary school and from a network of centres and community venues across the country.
Organisations who are taking part this year can log any event they’ll host during Scottish Careers Week at
www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/submit-your-scottish-careers-week-events, with an events calendar coming in September.
Find out more about Scottish Careers Week at www.myworldofwork.co.uk/scottish-careers-week
