Helping young people into employment

Community Learning and Development deliver several services that help young people aged 16 - 19 who are unable to compete effectively for training, further education or work opportunities because of a wide variety of disadvantages or disaffection.

Borders Production Unit

The unit provides an individual learning experience based on employability skills, social skills, achievement, literacy, numeracy and computing. Young people normally attend the unit in Galashiels for up to a year.

Young people are mainly referred to the Borders Production Unit through schools, Social Work and Careers Scotland. 

The BPU also takes self referral and referrals from parents or carers. Priority for places will be given to those wishing to move from care to independent living and those experiencing difficulties maintaining a further education college course or other training programme.

Get Ready For Work

Get Ready for Work is a national training programme for 16 - 18 year olds offering an employment-based training opportunity. We offer supported training placements in a range of workplaces, throughout the Borders.

The programme also offers a wide range training modules aimed at allowing trainees to learn whilst in the workplace.  Support is available to improve numeracy, personal development and communication skills.

The full time work experience offers young people an opportunity to pick up work-based skills whilst addressing any basic skills development.

16+ Activity Agreements

 An 'Activity Agreement' is a learning programme designed to meet the needs of young people who are leaving school and may struggle to get a job, training or further education.

Where the financial background of the young person allows, they may be eligible for an Educational Maintenance Allowance, while participating in an Activity Agreement.