While parents across the country were celebrating the end of the school holidays, pupils were probably a little less excited.
But this year might be different for 5th and 6th year pupils at least – because some have a new subject to get their teeth into.
Powering Futures is a sustainability challenge involving some of Scotland’s most prominent businesses, and it’s now available in 29 out of 32 of our council areas, and 29 per cent of our state secondary schools.
This initiative sees pupils tasked with collaborating to find solutions to sustainability challenges.
For example, in a challenge set by Scottish Gas (sponsor of Murrayfield Stadium), youngsters were asked: “What does a sustainable football or rugby or local sports ground look like?”
It is fantastic to see high schools and businesses collaborating in this way.
Book learning has got to be balanced with practical exercises that get the creative juices flowing and gets these bright pupils innovating and problem solving. It’s a great way to learn.
The roll-out of Powering Futures has really opened doors – there have even been pupils who have been offered apprenticeships as a direct result of their involvement, proving it’s an excellent platform for talent to shine.
And let’s not forget this is a two-way street. Don’t underestimate how much pupils can bring to the table to help businesses too.
There are numerous surveys out there showing that our Gen Zers put issues like environment, climate and future particularly high on the agenda and are often more willing to make changes.
Their insights are invaluable at a time when the topic of sustainability has become a key consideration in how companies operate.
On top of this, the participating pupils are helping to create a future talent pipeline.
This isn’t the only initiative looking to ensure that school education adequately prepares pupils for the workplace.
Independent school Kelvinside Academy in Glasgow has been trailblazing a new approach to education in the last few years.
As part of its bespoke career pathway programme, it has offered foundation apprenticeships during the timetabled curriculum. On top of that it has even opened an innovation school which enables its pupils to gain invaluable hands-on learning experience.
The school commissioned research last year to examine the state of UK education and found that 73 per cent of parents don’t believe schools are teaching skills relevant to the job market. That’s a shocking statistic.
It reinforces just why programmes like Powering Futures and Kelvinside’s approach to education are needed right across Scotland’s schools, to better equip pupils with the skills they need.
At the start of August, I couldn’t help but notice the volume of social media posts featuring career case studies as part of the #NoWrongPath campaign by Developing the Young Workforce (DYW).
What struck me was the amount of stories about people who’d set out on one career path only to end up embarking on a completely different one; or people who hadn’t got the grades they wanted during their exams but had gone on to have very successful careers.
I’d like to hope examples like these offer reassurance to young people who didn’t get the exam results they wanted recently.
It’s a big ask to expect 16 and 17 year-olds to know what they want to do with their lives, at a time when many of us still don’t even really know who we are.
While I think #NoWrongPath spreads an important message, the more hands-on approaches to education that I’ve cited above serve as a reminder that we can be doing more to help guide youngsters down the path that is right for them.
We need to give them the right opportunities to discover their talents and make the career decisions that are right for them.
Perhaps then there would be less need to reassure people that they hadn’t wasted time going down the wrong path.
It’s fascinating to see the new changes that Labour is intending to make when it comes to employment law.
The one that really stands out is the proposed ‘right to switch off’, which could see employers potentially being penalised for contacting workers outside an agreed set of hours.
France introduced a right to disconnect back in 2017, hoping to tackle the “always on” culture elevated by smartphones and other digital devices.
In theory, it sounds great, and in some industries, it might work well. But for others, where rapid responses and availability are a necessity, it’s hard to see how such a policy would play out without disrupting essential business.
Before we pop the champagne and toast our soon-to-be freedom from after-hours emails though, it’s worth bearing in mind that Scottish law firm Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie LLP (WJM) reckons the UK’s version of this law probably won’t be as far-reaching as the French model.
The firm’s employment law specialist Liam Entwistle was in the spotlight discussing the upcoming legislation, pointing out that while modern technology has blurred the line between work and personal life, employees do need time to rest to be more productive.
But he doesn’t think we’ll see a blanket ban on all digital communication – we’re more likely to see a law geared at protecting employees from repercussions if they choose to ignore messages outside of working hours.
It Made Me Laugh
Just when you thought there wasn’t a square inch of the UK and Ireland left unclaimed by McDonald’s, the golden arches are planning to plant their flag in over 200 more spots in the next four years!
Yes, you read that right. It looks like Ronald McDonald has an insatiable appetite for commercial spots, and at this rate, you’ll soon find a McDonald’s nestled between your living room and your bathroom.
Forget about walking to the nearest high street – for fans of a Maccie Dees, your next Big Mac could be as close as your neighbour’s shed.
With a restaurant in nearly every town already, they might need to get creative. McDonald’s drive-thru on a double-decker bus, anyone?
It Made Me Weep
It seems the Scottish Investment Bank is feeling the sting of an £8m loss from the ill-fated bottle deposit return scheme.
This contributed significantly to the bank’s overall £14.6m loss in the last financial year.
Ironically, even as income surged by over 80 per cent, hitting £19.3m and covering operating costs, the damage was already done.
The scheme, meant to boost sustainability, instead has turned into a financial pitfall.
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes is still optimistic, pointing to the increased income and operating profit as signs of a brighter future.
It’s clear that while the bank has made some progress, managing risk will be key to ensuring its long-term success.
