‘Year of service’ would help young Scots gain skills - Gordon Brown’s think tank

A “year of service” programme should be introduced to help young Scots gain skills for the workforce, a report from Gordon Brown’s think tank recommends.

The report, commissioned by Our Scottish Future, also calls for a new Scottish careers service and reforms to employability programmes.

It says that despite having Europe’s most highly-educated population, Scotland still lags behind London and the South East for productivity.

Too many Scots are “underemployed”, the report says, while 17% of the economically inactive population want to work.

Authored by the Social Market Foundation, it recommends an overhaul of the “fragmented” skills funding system, as well as a scheme similar to the UK “year of service” pilot project which launched in 2022.

It says: “A Scottish service year would learn from these approaches. Young people aged 16 to 24 would be offered placements that have clear social benefit, lasting up to a year.

“Hours per week would be flexible, depending on the circumstances of the participant, but most would be full time, and paid at least at the national living wage.”

Roles would be in areas of public need such as social care, home refitting and renewable energy.

Jim Gallagher, chairman of Our Scottish Future, said: “We’ve got great people, great ideas, and some industries that have massive potential for growth.

“Somehow, that is not yet leading to everyone being in a good job that makes the most of their talents.

“We need skills and employability policies that support industry and give people the best opportunities for success.”

Jamie Gollings, an author of the report, said: “Exciting new initiatives like a Scottish careers service, devolving welfare policy and introducing a Scottish year of service have the potential to make a real, tangible impact.

“Across the world, sluggish growth is the challenge of our time.

“By taking the practical measures this report proposes, and learning from best practice in both Westminster and Holyrood, Scotland has the potential to show the world how to achieve sustained long-term growth, and provide Scots with the good jobs and quality of life they deserve.”

Our Scottish Future was set up by former prime minister Mr Brown, to push for “positive and radical change in Scotland, accelerated by a reformed UK”.

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “The First Minister has been clear that one of his key priorities is to grow the economy and we have been taking the necessary steps to do this.

“Ministers are engaging industries and employers across the country, and will continue to do so as we reform the skills system and introduce a new skills planning approach, which will enable targeted action to address national and regional skills requirements.

“We are also reviewing and improving school-age and adult careers support, including better information on career choices, job prospects and earnings.”

She continued: “Ministers have already indicated that they will be working closely with the Career Services Collaborative, which brings together careers service providers and to improve coherence of the careers offer for users.

“Recognising the need to address current skills needs while reforming the system, we are providing £185 million this year to support apprenticeships – and looking at how we secure maximum benefit from this investment, including how public funding is utilised.”