I’m Clare and I’m an Employer School Coordinator with Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) North East.
DYW North East provides an important link between employers and schools in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. I’m one of six Employer School Coordinators in the Aberdeen City team and I work closely with two secondary schools. My job is to encourage connections between my schools and local companies to bring the world of work to life for young people.
How do I do this? Luckily, there are lots of different ways to bring young people together with employers. Part of my role is to understand the needs of my schools and their pupils, then contact local companies who might be able to provide support. I really enjoy working with young people – I love their energy and fresh thinking. My job is pretty special as I get to help young people explore different career-related opportunities, while encouraging employers to discover all the benefits involved with supporting young people!
In any given day, I might identify employer-related support for individual pupils, arrange for industry speakers to come into classes, or help pull together larger events such as careers fairs. All of these interactions can provide young people with some great ideas about the types of jobs that are out there and which role might be right for them. My mission is to create as much of this positive type of exposure as possible, so that young people can connect their learning in the classroom with their careers of the future. That’s what Developing the Young Workforce is all about!
I’m very fortunate as so many employers are keen to get involved; they recognise how important it is for young people to understand the different roles that exist and the skills they need to do them. The earlier that young people get access to this information, the better.
My background in marketing and communications has been helpful in this role. I still do a lot of research, looking for current and future opportunities that I can share with young people. We work closely with several great partners, including the ABZWorks team, so the new ABZWorks website has made its way to the top of my bookmarks! I also feel very fortunate that I get to meet so many amazing people through my job – from industry leaders who are doing groundbreaking work on our doorstep to the young people who are our leaders of the future. It’s a privilege to bring the two together.
You can find out more about DYW North East by visiting our website, or by dropping us a note on info@dyw.org.uk. We’re also active across Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
