In this series, we introduce the board members of DYW Fife and share why they wanted to get involved with the initiative. In this edition, we introduce you to Rhona Waugh.
Tell us about yourself, your background, and your career to date.
I started my career in the NHS as an admin trainee, which gave me a great foundation and insight into how different departments operate. Over time, I moved into HR, where I pursued professional qualifications and worked my way up to becoming a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and a senior member of the HR function within NHS Fife. My journey has been driven by a passion for supporting people and developing workforce strategies that strengthen the NHS and improve employability across the board.
How did you first get involved with DYW Fife?
I first got involved with DYW Fife through another colleague who was leaving NHS Fife and who was already actively involved with the DYW Fife Board. My Director and myself got involved after we made a decision to enhance the collaboration with DYW Fife and NHS Fife as we are the second biggest employer in the area, so it’s important that we are involved in these initiatives.
As a DYW Fife board member, what areas of the organisation’s work are you most passionate about?
We’re committed to being an ‘anchor institution’—an organisation that plays an active role in supporting the local economy and creating meaningful employment opportunities. Therefore, DYW Fife’s focus on helping young people into work really aligns with our goals, so it felt like a natural and important partnership to be part of.
Supporting employability and opening doors for others has always been something I care deeply about, and DYW Fife provides a great platform to do that. Through our Employability team—Lyndsay Thompson and Alison MacArthur—we’ve been able to develop some fantastic opportunities for young people to explore careers in healthcare. Their passion and expertise have really helped drive things forward.
One of the projects I’m most proud of is the EMERGE programme, which we supported in partnership with Fife College. It’s designed for pupils from more deprived areas to give them real insight into health and care careers. We started with a small group of eight students, and the programme offers interactive learning, work placements, and direct experience with a range of health professionals. The aim is to build their confidence, skills, and awareness of the wide range of career paths available within the NHS.
It’s incredibly rewarding to be part of something that helps young people discover new possibilities and see a future for themselves in healthcare.
What is the main challenge that DYW Fife is responsible for tackling, and how does it help?
One of the main challenges DYW Fife is tackling is the gap between education and the world of work. A lot of young people leave school without a clear understanding of the career options available to them, or what employers are actually looking for. DYW plays a key role in bridging that gap by connecting schools, colleges, and businesses, so young people can get real-life insight and experience. This is especially useful for NHS Fife as we have the strategic issue of an ageing workforce, so we need to make sure that young people are aware of the opportunities that are available to them, especially in non-medical roles such as labs, admin or maintenance for example.
Another big challenge is making sure opportunities are accessible to everyone, regardless of background or circumstances. There are still barriers as unfortunately, the attainment levels in some deprived areas can be quite low in comparison to other areas. DYW Fife and its partner programs such as MCR Pathways works to level the playing field, helping to create more inclusive pathways into employment, training, or further education.
What would you say to people who are thinking about getting involved with DYW?
I would encourage everyone to get involved. The DYW Fife board are made up of a diverse range of individuals who want to make a difference to Fife. They are incredibly passionate about what they do, it’s really inspiring and worthwhile.
