Scots Colleges Get £1m To Cut Unemployment

Scottish colleges are being given more money to improve ties with schools and employers, in a bid to cut youth unemployment.

Holyrood has given the sector an extra £1m to share between 13 regions - including Fife. They are trying to slash youth unemployment by 40% by the year 2021.

The move follows criticism of the SNP government for cutting over 150,000 college places since taking power in 2007.

Cabinet Secretary for Fair Work, Skills and Training, Roseanna Cunningham, said: 

"Our colleges are fully focused on Scotland’s economic growth, with the latest figures showing that the annual target of at least 116,000 full time equivalent students has been exceeded once again and more college students from less well-off backgrounds successfully completing their courses.

"Work to reduce youth unemployment in Scotland by 40 per cent by 2021 is well underway via the actions outlined in Scotland’s Youth Employment Strategy. Last month’s figures showed that youth employment levels in Scotland increased by 25,000 over the year to reach its highest level for this time of year since 2005.

"Today’s funding builds on the £0.5m allocated in 2014/15 to address gender imbalance on college courses. We have also funded Skills Development Scotland for more Modern Apprenticeships (MAs) and enhanced careers advice and local government to provide increased opportunities for high quality work-related learning for all young people.

"Our investment will allow colleges to further develop partnerships with schools and business that will lead to more high quality options for young people and help them build their experience and work towards sustainable, quality jobs."