Council launches £1m fund to prepare pupils for world of work

A SCOTTISH council has launched a £1 million fund to make sure young people leaving the authority's schools are ready to find work.

Writing in The Scotsman today, East Ayrshire Council leader Douglas Reid says that the fund "will be spent across our secondary schools to provide additional career training facilities to help ensure our young people preparing to leave education are more 'business ready'".

He writes: "To help our youngsters succeed at the highest level in the 21st century we need to use the mix of excellent teachers and well-run schools already in place, and then add to that the knowledge, experience and support of top business people.

"I met with headteachers to discuss how this initiative will complement the work they already do. "

Business leaders have backed the initiative, he says.