For You Training is recognised at the Living Wage Awards 2024
This year’s Living Wage Scotland Awards took place on Wednesday 6 November at Rutherglen Town Hall. With everyone in the room being recognised for the great work they do in promoting the real Living Wage, supporting their staff and their communities, and for their continued commitment to working towards a fairer Scotland.
Sarah MacKenzie, Director at For You Training commented ‘We were delighted to win the ‘Local Champion’ award at last night’s Living Wage Scotland Awards 2024. Being in a room full of people dedicated to a fairer Scotland was inspiring. We’re committed to ensuring young people in the Highlands have access to well-paid, meaningful work within the hospitality and tourism sectors.” ‘As an organisation within the Scottish Highlands we see the impact of rural deprivation and seasonality particularly within the hospitality and tourism sectors. We have made it our mission to ensure that young people interested in working in these sectors are well treated, trained and paid. Hospitality has not been known as a sector that promotes skilled jobs that pay well, and this is something we are making a positive movement towards changing for the better. ‘ At For You Training they do not shy away from the challenges that this presents to businesses. Businesses are under a huge amount of pressure as they navigate the current economic climate. The idea of investing in the future to many seems impossible. For You Training have been working closely with businesses in these key sectors to understand their challenges for growth. It often comes down to their struggle to keep staff or attract new talents into the industry. It is well known that young people do not see these sectors as desirable places to work due to its reputation for poor pay, staff being over worked and a lack of career prospects. Sarah MacKenzie, Director at For You Training continues ‘What we have recognised is that in the Highland population we have higher than average unemployment and yet we have key sectors locally crying out for people. We see ourselves as the ‘connector’. On one side we are reaching out to young people to demonstrate the opportunities within these sectors and on the other side we are ensuring that businesses within the sector are supported to create real opportunities, with good pay and career prospects. This is the connection that we believe needs to be made to reduce the depopulation crisis and encourage key sector growth. At For You Training they have seen first-hand the challenges that paying the Living Wage can bring however they have seen that the rewards far outweigh the challenges and are proud to have a highly motivated and skilled workforce who consistently go above and beyond for the organisation and have seen the benefits.
“There’s a real opportunity in the Highlands to connect local talent with industries that need it. Together, we can build a fairer and stronger community,” says our Director, Sarah MacKenzie.
The Living Wage Scotland Awards was hosted by the comedian Susan Morrison and special guest speaker was Mel Young, Co-Founder of The Big Issue, and Founder and President of the Homeless World Cup. Mel is passionate about the role of sport in changing the world for the better and the audience were moved and inspired by his message.
Guests at the Living Wage Scotland Awards were also joined by Tom Arthur, Scottish Government Minister for Employment and Investment who announced the winners of the Living Hours Awards.