686 young people from 150 secondary schools across 17 local authority areas in Scotland celebrated completing their Career Ready programme at a brilliant, interactive virtual event on Thursday 23 March.
Career Ready is a social mobility charity who wants every young person, regardless of background, to progress to a positive post-school destination and prosper in work and life. Young people who face barriers in education and employment due to their socio-economic-cultural background are given the chance to establish and develop their network, for their talents to be uncovered and potential fulfilled.
The charity’s aim is for every young person, regardless of background, to progress to a positive post-school destination and prosper in work and life.
Working in partnership with employers and their people, Local Authorities, schools, the Developing the Young Workforce Regional Groups and the Scottish Government, Career Ready provide young people in S5/6 with a structured, impactful, two-year programme that empowers, boosts social capital and develops work skills.
With a mentor from the world of work, a four-week paid internship with their mentor’s organisation, and a series of skills masterclasses combined with workplace visits, young people leave school more confident, knowledgeable, and ready to follow their identified career path. A lifelong network is established, which continues to be developed as a Career Ready alumnus.
First, congratulations to all the young people from across Scotland who have successfully completed their Career Ready experience and are graduating today. I am sure you have all gained considerably from the experience which will really set you up well for the future.
The brilliant things that this programme offers can only happen because of an amazingly dedicated hard-working group – Career Ready staff, Local Authority & school coordinators, employer mentors and supporting organisations. There has never been a more relevant, important and impactful time for Career Ready, so my heartfelt thanks for all of you that are making this amazing programme possible.
John Stewart, HRD SSE plc and the Chair of Scotland Advisory Board for Career Ready
A key element of the programme in summer 2022 was the paid internship for every participating student in their mentor’s organisation. The time developing the mentoring relationship before the workplace / hybrid internship began added to a quality and depth of experience possible.
There are over 300 organisations of all shapes and sizes involved with Career Ready in Scotland. Including top businesses who are celebrating 10 years of being involved with Career Ready – Diageo, bp, Morgan Stanley, NatWest Group, SSE, and Blackrock.
Today is about celebrating the many successes and accomplishments of the 2023 Career Ready graduates from across Scotland and the inspiration they offer us. What they have achieved and committed to is impressive.
It is also an opportunity to say a big thank you to the many organisations and their people who provided students with the guidance of a brilliant mentor, the opportunity of a paid internship and masterclasses to help the young people of Scotland onto their chosen career pathway brimming with more skills, optimism and confidence. These life enhancing opportunities mean we pay tribute to employers too and also celebrate how young people have added to their organisations and their people.
Anne Wexelstein, Career Ready, Director for Scotland
The quality of experiences and impact of the Career Ready programme through its extensive partner community was yet again recently confirmed in the destination outcomes of the previous year’s graduate students, with 98% in higher or further education, employment or training.
