A brand new partnership to further strengthen links between business and education in Fife

We are delighted to share news of a new partnership between Fife Chamber, DYW Fife and Fife Council – Our collaborative partnership will support the work of DYW Fife across the region, helping to create more opportunities for young people to get vital industry insights and work experience that will enhance their employment and career options when they leave school.

As part of the partnership, Amanda Liddell has joined the Fife Chamber team as DYW Business Engagement Executive to strengthen the links between schools and businesses. This role will allow Amanda to engage with the Fife business community, supporting them to create opportunities for pupils in their local schools, aligning with the ongoing aims of DYW Fife – building local connections between businesses and education to ignite opportunities for Fife’s young people and help prepare them for the world of work.

Commenting on Amanda’s appointment, Alan Mitchell, Chief Executive of Fife Chamber, said

“Many businesses willingly give their time and resources to help young people get ready for the world of work, but not enough do. Attending school career days, giving industry talks, resourcing curriculum-related projects and offering work experience are just a few of the simple ways in which companies in Fife can improve the job prospects of young people and, in doing so, secure their own future workforce. Skills shortages are dominating news headlines just now: DYW gives more businesses a chance to get on the front foot and stop it happening to them in the future. Fife Chamber is very excited to be part of this project, which we think will turbocharge links between schools and employers. It will create a better future for young people in Fife and the companies that employ them and benefit from their talent in the years ahead as we rebuild our economy and our communities.”

Ryan Hepburn, DYW Fife Lead at Fife Council, said

“We are delighted to be working in collaboration with the Fife Chamber team and Amanda’s appointment comes at a time when we need to increase the number of businesses engaging with young people. DYW Fife is committed to bringing together employers, partners and young people and Amanda will play a vital role in forging these relationships. It is anticipated that this focused approach to employer engagement will lead to more opportunities for young people in Fife while supporting the work of our 21 DYW School Coordinators. We want our young people to be successful in their career journey and it’s crucial that we support them to ensure recent events of the pandemic have as little impact as possible.”

Supported by DYW Fife, Fife’s schools and local College are already working collaboratively with both national and local businesses across a broad range of sectors, to deliver mentoring, careers sessions, skills development sessions, CV support, work placements, site visits, apprenticeships and much more to Fife’s young people. Amanda’s appointment further strengthens this commitment as she looks to build further engagement with the thriving business community in Fife.

Amanda would be delighted to help you understand how your business can best connect with education and get involved with Developing the Young Workforce in Fife. Email amandaliddell@fifechamber.co.uk or call 07527 545 733 to find out more about the value of DYW for your business.