Planning for Positive Pathways: Partnership Event Brings Educators, Employers and Experts Together
6 June 2025
In May 2025, Developing the Young Workforce Inverness & Central Highland (DYWICH) joined forces with key partners from Skills Development Scotland (SDS), Highland Council, and DYW leads in our secondary schools from across our region for a dedicated ‘Partnership Day’ focused on one shared goal: supporting our young people into positive futures.
The day, one of three being held across the Highlands, was all about working collaboratively to strengthen the ‘Positive Pathways’ process – a whole-system approach that supports young people from P7 through to S6 to move confidently into employment, apprenticeships, training, or further education. With the regional workforce landscape evolving rapidly, the event created space to reflect, realign and refocus our collective efforts.
Setting the Scene: Local Economy, National Opportunities
Audrey MacIver, Area Manager for Inner Moray Firth at Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), opened the day with a compelling overview of the region’s economic future. She highlighted the Highlands and Islands’ unique position at the forefront of sectors such as energy, life sciences, tourism, creative industries, food and drink, and even space. But these opportunities can only be realised with a workforce equipped with the right skills.
Audrey’s message was clear: there are more jobs than people in our region – meaning young people have more options than ever before, and employers are eager to attract talent. This reinforces the importance of early and sustained career education, real-world experiences, and developing core skills like problem-solving, resilience, and communication.
Hearing from Employers: What Does the Future Workforce Need?
A lively panel session followed, featuring representatives from SSEN Transmission, Cairngorm Group, Premier Inn, Stagecoach, SGL Carbon, and NHS Highland. Each employer shared how they currently engage with young people, from work experience to onboarding, and offered honest reflections on where more support is needed.
When asked what schools could do to better prepare young people for the world of work, responses focused not on qualifications alone, but on attitudes and attributes: resilience readiness for the workplace, good communication, teamwork, self-awareness and confidence. Several panellists expressed the need for more practical opportunities for pupils to explore and build these skills.
The message? Start early and embed employability and soft skills into everyday learning - because those traits are just as vital as technical ability.
Planning Together: Building Pathways That Work
The afternoon moved into collaborative planning sessions, with school teams, DYWICH and SDS staff working together to shape their local delivery using the national Target Operating Model (TOM). Discussions centred around enhancing access to high-quality work experience, ensuring opportunities reflect pupil aspirations, and aligning with employer demand.
From creating better rural transport links and streamlining placement processes, to introducing employability earlier in the curriculum and work experience focused careers fayres, partners generated a wealth of ideas to take forward. There was also strong recognition of the value in local employer networks, and a shared ambition to better support all pupils - including those with additional needs - into meaningful experiences.
A Unified Vision
Reflecting on the day, Liz Fletcher, Programme Lead for Developing the Young Workforce Inverness & Central Highland, said, “What really stood out was the shared commitment across sectors to put young people at the centre of everything we do. We heard directly from employers about the skills and behaviours they value, and we saw school teams energised to take that insight and shape real, practical pathways for pupils. This wasn’t just a planning session – it was a collective investment in the future of our workforce and our region. By working together, we’re not only inspiring the next generation – we’re actively preparing them for success.”
Looking Ahead
With refreshed local plans, new connections and a renewed focus on positive destinations, the May 2025 event was an important milestone in the ongoing journey to develop the future workforce. By continuing to listen, collaborate, and act, we can ensure every young person in Inverness and Central Highland is ready to take their next step with confidence.
