Minerva Blog
Demand for accomplished graduates is on the rise in Scotland
Demand for accomplished graduates is on the rise in Scotland, although skills shortages continues to be a problem, it has been revealed.
According to ScotlandIS, the country’s trade body for the IT and digital sector, almost 70 per cent of the companies they polled were planning to take on new recruits, but have found it increasingly difficult to fill vacancies and specific skills shortages.
These issues pose further problems for management training in Scotland as companies are having to take on the extra cost of training skilled IT managers and staff members to fill in the gap.
It has been estimated that over 45,000 professionals will be needed in the next five years in the digital industry which has taken on well over 100,000 people.
Polly Purvis, executive director of ScotlandIS said: “Today’s survey results and industry findings reinforce the message that comes back again and again from our members. They are going for growth and there is significant pent up demand for skilled people in the digital technologies industry.”
According to the Office for National Statistics, unemployment in Scotland fell by 4,000, to 200,000 from November 2012 to January 2013.
Source: CMI
Minerva People are a CMI centre that are able to provide a range of Management Training Courses to businesses throughout Scotland.
Posted by Andrew on Friday, April 5th, 2013. Comment
Youth Jobs Scheme Extended
Hundreds more young people will be supported into jobs following the investment of an additional £6.3 million from the Scottish Government into Community Jobs Scotland.
The third sector programme will receive £5.75 million for 2013/14 to support up to 1,000 young people into employment with 10 per cent of the budget ring fenced for those with disabilities and long term illnesses.
A further £550,000 will be invested this year for 100 job opportunities for young people with disabilities and long term illnesses. This is over and above the initial £8.5 million investment for 2012/13.
The eligibility age range of vulnerable young people will also be extended up to 24, having previously been 16 to 19.
Speaking at the Gathering on Youth Employment in Glasgow, Minister for Youth Employment Angela Constance said:
“Community Jobs Scotland has played a pivotal role in delivering Opportunities for All, our unique guarantee of an offer of a place in training or education for 16 to 19 year olds. Extending the programme for another year will help hundreds more improve their life chances through finding jobs.
“The time is also right for those involved with Community Jobs Scotland to ensure our most vulnerable young people aged up to 24 can benefit from their expertise. Furthermore, a ring fenced budget for those with disabilities and long term illnesses will help address the particular barriers they have accessing the labour market.
“In 2013, the Scottish Government will be stepping up its commitment to supporting young people into employment. As well as Opportunities for All, we are already committed to at least 25,000 Modern Apprenticeships in every year of this Parliament and we will shortly launch a new Employer Recruitment Initiative to aid small and medium businesses that want to take on more young people. I would urge employers in Scotland, big or small, to make young people their business in 2013.”
Source: Scottish Government
Posted by Andrew on Thursday, March 7th, 2013. Comment
Scottish Apprenticeship Week 2013
This year’s Scottish Apprenticeship Week runs from May 20 to 24 and celebrates the talents and skills of apprentices as well as recognising their contribution to businesses and the economy.
Led by Skills Development Scotland, Scottish Apprentice Week will bring together apprentices, employers, training providers and partners in a series of events across the country.
National and regional activities will be taking place throughout the week.
Full details of Minerva People’s event will follow soon.
Posted by Andrew on Monday, March 4th, 2013. Comment
Youth unemployment in Scotland
Youth unemployment in Scotland (among people aged 16-24) has fallen by 28,000 over the last year, according to the latest figures released today by the Office of National Statistics. The Scottish youth unemployment rate is now 18.4 per cent compared to 20.6 per cent in the UK, and the youth employment rate in Scotland is 54.9 per cent compared to 51.6 per cent in the UK.
Posted by Andrew on Thursday, February 21st, 2013. Comment
New Year, new learning opportunities
New Year, new learning opportunities.
Two of Minerva People’s learners has been showcased on the Scottish Government website in relation to learning opportunities for young people.
The article focuses on the views of the two young people but also includes comments from Minister for Youth Employment Angela Constance, a local employer and also one of our own team, Katherine Crowe.
Rachel Donnelly and Jessica Jones have clearly enjoyed undertaking their apprenticehsips and I would encourage school pupils, individuals, employers, and parents to read this interesting article.
View the full article – here
Posted by Andrew on Wednesday, January 16th, 2013. Comment
Launch of The Professional Development Award in Childhood Practice at SCQF Level 9
Launch of The Professional Development Award in Childhood Practice at SCQF Level 9
Tonight Minerva People in partnership with The Children’s House and the Hamilton School are launching The Professional Development Award (PDA) in Childhood Practice at SCQF Level 9.
This is an excellent qualification for any childcare practitioners who wish to attain a level 9 qualificaiton by following a vocational route rather than having to go to University. Minerva People are passionate about helping people to develop their careers and this new qualification removes a lot of barriers to those who wish to continue their career development in the childcare profession.
The launch event is taking place at the Easterbrook Hall in Dumfries this evening. Following registration and refreshments there will be a welcome and introduction by Edith Todd, Manager of The Children’s House. The Keynote Speaker is Dr. Suzanne Zeedyk who will also take questions from delegates. The Launch of the PDA in Childhood Practice will then be concluded with panel discussion.
We look forward to seeing many of you this evening.
Posted by Andrew on Thursday, October 25th, 2012. Comment
Congratulations to our staff
Congratulations to our staff for the hard work they have put in developing their own skills and expertise. I would like to congratulate some particular members of the Minerva People team that have recently gained new qualifications.
Gwyneth Watson, Training Manager, has become a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute (CMI).
Christine McCubbin, Recruitment Coordinator, has successfully passed her Certificate in Recruitment Practice with Merit from the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC).
Amy Henderson gained her Modern Apprenticeship in Administration.
Posted by Andrew on Wednesday, October 3rd, 2012. Comment
Scottish Training Federation Award Winners
Congratulations to everyone at Minerva People on becoming Scottish Training Federation Award Winners. Minerva managed to scoop two awards at the Scottish Training Federation (STF) Awards Ceremony that were held last night as part of the annual STF Conference and Dinner.
The two awards that Minerva won are:
Success in Partnership
STF Provider of the Year
These are fantastic accolades to receive, especially from an organisation that represents a broad mix of private training providers, group training associations, colleges, universities and local authority training departments. The Scottish Training Federation is the voice of Scottish Training Providers. It is the main representative body of learning providers in Scotland.
The awards pay testament to all the hard work that the Minerva team puts in every day and recognises the commitment that we have to every single one of our clients. Minerva People always ensure that our clients succeed. Well done everyone.
Posted by Andrew on Wednesday, September 26th, 2012. Comment
New ECDL Online Course Launched
We are excited to announce that Minerva People are able to offer our customers ECDL (European Computer Driving Licence) training using the latest Microsoft Office Suite (2010) via an online training.
Minerva is able to bring you this ECDL Online course through our Pitman Training Centre in Dumfries.
The ECDL Online course is perfectly suited to anyone wishing to learn from home. You can train from home and sit practice exams from home. Then, when you are ready, just contact us to sit an exam on a day and time that suits you.
To find out more about ECDL, or to book onto the course, contact Andrew today via email at andrew@minervpeople.co.uk or by phone on 01387 248 244.
Posted by Andrew on Friday, September 7th, 2012. Comment
Scottish Training Federation Awards 2012
The Scottish Training Federation (STF) Awards Ceremony will take place at their Annual Dinner & Conference of Wednesday 25th September 2012.
Minerva People are delighted to announce that they have been shortlisted as a finalist in the following three award categories:
Success in Partnership
Innovation in Training
STF Provider of the Year
Fingers crossed for all the team at Minerva that we can win one of the awards. After all the hard work that has been put in by everyone this year we certainly deserve to.
Posted by Andrew on Wednesday, August 29th, 2012. Comment
