We wanted to write to you in our role as Scotland’s business leaders and on behalf of our networks of thousands of Scottish employers to reassure you of our commitment and support no matter what path you follow.

As employers, we recognise the challenges you have faced over the last two years and take great confidence in the ingenuity and resilience shown to overcome them.

We want to reassure you that we recognise and value your qualifications as much as any other year and that the skills you have developed and will continue to develop, will play a crucial role in ensuring a bright future for businesses in Scotland and our economy.

We are committed to creating job opportunities for you so that you can have a positive future. Scotland is fortunate in having a wide range of industries offering many exciting jobs for you to consider for your future career. There are lots of industries continuing to grow and new ones emerging that offer opportunities across all of Scotland. Employers will continue to need young people with fresh ideas and experience to get involved and work together with us.

We recognise there are many different high-quality pathways available as you take your next steps and we stand ready to help you take advantage of opportunities to help realise your full potential. We encourage you to be curious, explore all available opportunities, look at different sectors and what they can offer and take the time needed to consider the decisions that will support your future careers.

We all support the ambition of the Young Person’s Guarantee and its commitment to support every young person aged between 16 and 24, who will have the opportunity of a job, apprenticeship, further or higher education, training programme or volunteering.

Wishing you the very best of luck with your next steps.

Signed

• Dr Liz Cameron CBE, CEO, Scottish Chambers of Commerce
• Sandy Begbie, CEO, Scottish Financial Enterprise
• Marc Crothall, CEO, Scottish Tourism Alliance
• Damien Yeates, CEO, Skills Development Scotland
• James Withers, CEO, Scotland Food and Drink
• Dr Liz Barron-Majerik, Director, LANTRA
• Lee Ann Panglea, Head of CIPD Scotland and Northern Ireland, CIPD
• Tracy Black, Director Scotland, CBI
• Fiona Hodgson, CEO, SNIPEF Training Services
• David Lonsdale, Director, Scottish Retail Consortium
• Karen Betts, CEO, Scotch Whisky Association
• Martin Crewe, Director, Barnardo’s
• Sara Thiam, CEO, Scottish Council for Development and Industry
• Paul Carberry, Director for Scotland, Action for Children
• Iain MacRitchie, Founder and Chair, MCR Pathways
• Anne Wexelstein, Director for Scotland, Career Ready
• Celia Tennant, Chief Executive, Inspiring Scotland
• Tim Balcon, Chief Executive, CITB