What happened for Scottish Careers Week?
Article written by Albert Hooper, S6 pupil at Tain Royal Academy
This week young people all over Inverness and Central Highland celebrated Scottish Careers Week 2026 with support from DYWICH as the team encouraged students across the region to connect with local employers to educate them on different industries, and understand the opportunities available for them locally.
During the week a wide range of events and activities were rolled out, allowing students to gain hands-on experience and gather key insights into different careers.
At Inverness Royal Academy Morgan Stanley and Thorntons Solicitors did a talk surrounding careers in Finance/Tech/Operations and spoke to the young people about the different routes into Graduate Apprenticeships.
Pupils from Inverness Royal Academy, Culloden Academy, Fortrose Academy and Malaig High School faced the Dragons in the Dragon’s Den as part of the Young Enterprise Company Programme, a year-long level 6 accredited programme where senior pupils develop a real business. Pupils pitched to a panel of local Dragons to secure investment which will help to take their businesses to the next stage.
Another great opportunity was offered at Inverness Bonfire Night. Scotguard Security offered paid work experience opportunities for young people to help throughout the night.
At the Highland Council HQ building in Inverness Mock COP31 was a fantastic opportunity for pupils and practitioners in secondary schools to learn more about the climate emergency, how to speak up about issues relating to current climate problems and they became delegates in mock negotiations with teams from other schools which pupils found great.
At the Highland Club Rugby, SSEN Transmission held Discovery Days. Over the two days, young people took part in interactive sessions built to help them learn more about key skills and understand the future careers and opportunities available across the energy industry.
There was also another fantastic careers week activity at Inverness High School where S3-S6 pupils had various workshops delivered to them throughout the week by local employers.
At Charleston Academy, business leaders were invited by the school’s house captains to take part in a frog auction at the school. Instead of products the business leaders bid on skills they believed were most valuable in a young person. The skills that were won by employers went on their UniFrog skills framework which is their collection of skills employers believe are the most important for young people to have.
Also at Inverness High School 20 students delivered a drama performance facilitated by Vivid Roots in front of their peers. This was to show their thoughts about Inverness & Cromarty Firth Green Freeport and what opportunities and career pathways the Freeport will bring for young people living in the Highlands. Meanwhile at Glen Urquhart High School a similar project kicked off in collaboration with Vivid Roots, a highland based theatre company and registered charity.
DYWICH programme manager, Liz Fletcher also attended a fantastic evening at The Rotary Club of Inverness Culloden Schools Master Chef Competition which was hosted at the UHI Inverness. Four talented young chefs, Aayat Ali, from Inverness High School, Hannah Mowat, from Culloden Academy, and Mairi Scotson, from Inverness Royal Academy, and Ailsa Porteous, of Inverness Royal Academy, competed and the standard was exceptionally high. After a very close competition, Ailsa was crowned our winner, with just one point separating the contestants. The evening shone a light on the careers and professionalism of the Hospitality Industry.
Reflecting on the events run as part of Scottish Careers Week, DYWICH Programme Manager, Liz Fletcher, shared,
“Scottish Careers Week highlights what can be achieved when education and industry come together.
“The fantastic range of activities delivered across the region has enabled young people to make meaningful connections with employers and discover the diverse opportunities available throughout the Highlands. Our thanks go to every school, employer and partner who helped make the week such a success“.