Tag: work experience

Young people with sight loss still shut out of job opportunities

Senior Pupil Warns of Barriers Young People with Visual Impairment Face in the Workplace

A Portobello High School pupil is speaking out about the challenges visually impaired young people face in securing work experience and employment opportunities, after overcoming barriers of her own through a summer internship with Sight Scotland.

Millie Williams, who is in sixth year and has the rare genetic eye condition Leber’s congenital amaurosis, says many young people with sight loss struggle to gain employment and valuable workplace experience because employers are often unsure how to support them.

Millie, who has been visually impaired since birth but was not diagnosed until the age of five because of the rarity of her condition, faced repeated challenges in securing work experience, with many employers uncertain about what adjustments might be needed for a young person with a visual impairment.

Determined not to let those barriers stand in her way, she secured a placement through the Career Ready programme with Sight Scotland. Millie joined Sight Scotland’s People and Culture team earlier this summer, where she used her lived experience to help improve accessibility, engagement and recruitment processes across the organisation.

The four-week internship has boosted her confidence, developed valuable workplace skills and given her first-hand experience of professional life, leaving her feeling ready to enter the world of work when she completes her studies.

She said: “I’d never had any work experience before, and finding opportunities can be really challenging when you have a visual impairment.

“Some employers simply haven’t worked with someone who has sight loss before, so they can be unsure about what support might be needed and are sometimes reluctant to offer placements. That can be really discouraging when you’re trying to gain experience and build your confidence.

“When I was matched with Sight Scotland, I was delighted. It felt like the perfect place to start because everyone understood the challenges that I face on a daily basis, but more importantly they also focused on what I can do rather than what I can’t. I’ve had the chance to learn new skills, meet new people and gain valuable experience in a real working environment.

“During my placement, I had the opportunity to visit a range of Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans services, including the Royal Blind School, the Scottish Braille Press and the Veterans Activity Centres.

“I was also involved in the People and Culture team’s ARO project, which stands for Attraction, Recruitment and Onboarding. As part of this, I reviewed websites and digital platforms used by the organisation to see how welcoming and engaging they were, particularly for younger people like me.

“I also looked at how accessible they were for people with visual impairments, helping to identify ways to make them more inclusive for everyone.

“Working with Sight Scotland has been an amazing experience. Being part of an organisation where people genuinely understand visual impairment has made a huge difference. The team has been incredibly welcoming and supportive from day one. They’ve given me opportunities to learn, develop new skills and gain experience that will help me in the future.”

Millie added: “Before I started, I could be quite nervous about introducing myself or asking for help when I needed it.

“Now, I feel much more comfortable communicating with others and taking part in conversations. It’s also given me a real insight into what working life is like and what it means to be part of a team. The placement has really boosted my confidence and shown me that my visual impairment doesn’t have to hold me back.”

Carol Ann Boyer, Director of People and Culture at Sight Scotland, said: “It has been fantastic to welcome Millie to the team and watch her grow in confidence throughout her placement.

“Work experience plays a vital role in helping young people develop skills, explore career options and prepare for the future, and we are proud to provide those opportunities in an inclusive and supportive environment.

“Young people with vision impairments should have the same opportunities to gain workplace experience and pursue their career ambitions as anyone else. We hope Millie’s story encourages more organisations to open their doors to disabled young people and recognise the talent, enthusiasm and fresh perspectives they can bring to the workplace.”

Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans’ 2027 internship programme is now open for applications. To register an interest or find out more, visit sightscotland.org.uk or email Lesley Sweeney at lesley.sweeney@sightscotland.org.uk.

Work experience opportunties at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre

We are having some work done in the centre next week w/b 24 August and there are opportunities for local residents to volunteer for a minimum of three days AND earn City and Guilds accreditations.

If you are interested, the contact details are on the poster.

Gracemount High School pupils gain hands-on hospitality experience in partnership with The University of Edinburgh

The University of Edinburgh Hospitality Collection has partnered with Gracemount High School to give pupils hands-on hospitality experience through the Hospitality Connect programme.

The initiative aims to reshape perceptions of hospitality careers while providing students with real-world training in a professional hotel environment.

Since launching last November, the partnership has enabled 30 Gracemount students, aged 14 to 16, to explore daily operations at The Scholar, a 4-star hotel run by The University of Edinburgh, through four immersive workshops. Participants gained practical insight into core hospitality functions including housekeeping, reception services, kitchen operations, and food & beverage management.

Hospitality Connect, founded by UK Hospitality, delivers six bespoke career experiences annually, including workshops, employer-led events, and hands-on training. By connecting classroom learning with real-world industry expertise, the programme helps bridge the gap between education and employment, offering students a tangible pathway into hospitality careers.

The programme culminated on Thursday, 27th March, with a special event at the hotel’s restaurant The Brasserie, rebranded by the students as “The Mount” for the day. Students took full control of the lunch service, overseeing everything from menu design and marketing to food preparation and front-of-house service.

This hands-on experience not only contributed to their year-end assessments but also provided them with practical skills and a deeper understanding of the industry – an invaluable stepping stone toward future career opportunities.

Gavin MacLennan, Group General Manager for Operations at the University of Edinburgh Hospitality Collection, said: “We have loved opening our operations to support students who have already demonstrated a keen interest in the hospitality sector.

“By providing real-world insights and experiences, we’ve sought to equip them with the practical skills and knowledge required to excel in this field and to demonstrate the career opportunities it brings.”

Morven Langley, Teacher at Gracemount High School, added: “This initiative really brings classroom learning to life.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity for our students to see the inner workings of a busy Edinburgh hotel, enhancing their learning and preparing them for exciting career opportunities in this growing sector.”

This partnership marks the start of what is hoped to be a long-term collaboration, inspiring the next generation to view hospitality as an exciting and rewarding career choice.

To find out more about the University of Edinburgh Hospitality Collection, please visit: 

https://www.uoecollection.com/.

Britain’s ‘new approach’ to Welfare

UK Government Work Scheme delivers almost 100,000 placements

Almost 100,000 workplace training places have been delivered in the past year for jobseekers, smashing the Government’s 80,000 annual target, new data has revealed.

  • Record number of workplace training places have been delivered this year helping boost jobseeker skills and the economy 
  • Significant milestone hit as Prime Minister sets out welfare reforms to jumpstart UK labour market
  • DWP working directly with businesses to hire work-ready Brits and reduce dependence on foreign labour  
  • Comes in week that NICs cuts worth £900 hit pay packets ensuring work pays

Part of the Westminster Government’s plan to help people back to work and grow the economy, Sector-based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs) help benefit claimants move off welfare and into work by providing tailored training and work experience before a guaranteed job interview.

Businesses who are actively hiring help craft these six-weeks on-the-job programmes, so that participants gain the right experience and skills for their roles.

The latest figures published this week show that in the last year 98,710 places were delivered – the highest annual figure yet. It brings the total number of SWAP starts to 283,930 – in sectors ranging from coding to hospitality, construction, health and social care. 

It comes in the week that the Government’s NICs cuts worth £900 to the average worker hits pay packets as part of the plan to cut taxes, grow the economy and build a brighter future for hard-working families.

Backed by industry giants such as UKHospitality, the British Chamber of Commerce and Business in the Community, alongside household brands like Amazon, JD Sports and Lidl, jobseekers leave SWAPs work ready as they apply for live job roles. 

The milestone follows the UK Government’s ‘bold new vision’ for welfare, with the Prime Minister outlining reforms to tackle inactivity as we give more Brits the skills and support to get back into work as we bring down migration levels. 

Secretary of State for Work & Pensions, Mel Stride MP said: “Our Jobcentres are a proven route to changing lives through work and the learning and upskilling opportunities they provide are second to none.

“As part of our plan to build our new welfare settlement for Britain and grow the economy, this major milestone helps people get on with the skills they need to secure a great job, a higher wage, and a brighter future for their family.

After the Prime Minister announced the accelerated rollout of Universal Credit last week, together with increases to the Administrative Earnings Threshold (AET), even more claimants will benefit from the dedicated employment support offered through our Jobcentres.

This includes all the programmes under the Department for Work and Pensions’ (DWP) £2.5bn Back to Work Plan, which is set to help over a million people, including those with long-term health conditions to break down barriers to work.

Keith, 47, from St Austell was looking to change careers after he finished a previous role. He said: “I was very interested in getting into Mental Health Care, but I had no qualifications or experience in the area. My Work Coach Tom was really supportive and told me how I could get experience in the sector through a SWAP with the NHS.

“The SWAP opened my eyes to the type of roles available within the NHS and gave me the confidence I needed to kickstart my new career. I’m now working as a Developmental Mental Health Assistant and cannot believe I’ve reached my dream of working in Mental Health so quickly with the help of SWAPs.”

Whether it’s someone’s first job or a career change, jobseekers of any age and experience can access invaluable work experience through SWAPs for a role actively being recruited for. 

Andrew Bush, CPO of Greene King, said: “We were really pleased to be part of the sector-based work academy in partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions and other hospitality employers.

“Through collaboration, we were able to create a programme that gave candidates a greater insight into our exciting industry, providing opportunities for many to achieve a fulfilling career in hospitality.”

The UK Government is taking the long-term decisions to ensure the resilience of the UK’s labour market, building a strong economy where hard work is rewarded and where everyone has a brighter future.

Alexandra Hall-Chen, Principal Advisor for Employment and Skills with the Institute of Directors said: “At a time when many businesses are struggling to recruit the skills they need, SWAPs provide a valuable means by which employers can tap into a wider pool of candidates.

“By providing jobseekers with support and training targeted at key sectors, SWAPs are a key tool in tackling both skills shortages and barriers to employment.”

NHS Lothian committed to Young Person Guarantee

NHS Lothian has announced that, as part of a commitment to the #youngpersonsguarantee, they will be the first Health Board in Scotland to go live with #kickstart opportunities throughout 2021.

The Kickstart Scheme is a 6 month paid job with a local employer, funded by the Government. It provides a fully funded opportunity for young people to gain experience of working in one of Britain’s most exciting companies.

The Kickstart Scheme was announced by the Chancellor in the Summer, and will offer hundreds of thousands of job opportunities over the next two years. A £2 billion pot is available to fully fund exciting positions with businesses across Britain.

Jobs from the Kickstart Scheme are open to 16-24 year olds, who are claiming Universal Credit, and are at risk of long term unemployment. If you have a work coach they will talk to you about the Kickstart Scheme and whether it’s right for you.

We have roles on offer in many different types of businesses, and across England, Scotland and Wales. Plus if you take on a Kickstart placement you might be able to progress to an apprenticeship within the same company.

Ask your Work Coach about these opportunities and look on the Apprenticeships website.

The first jobs are now live, talk to your work coach to find out more. If you don’t have a work coach, find out more about your career options.