Young Person's Guarantee - implementation: progress report

Key Risks and Mitigation

The table below provides an overview of the potential key risks identified to the implementation of the Young Person's Guarantee (assuming a worst case scenario), and the controls in place to mitigate against the likelihood and impact of these risks.

Potential Risk:

Future difficult labour market conditions may mean that it takes longer than expected to recover. This could lead to fewer jobs available for young people.

Mitigation:

1) Increasing employer engagement activity.

2) Close engagement with partners and analysts to understand patterns of employment to identify areas of jobs growth, and to match young people to job vacancies.

3) Links to wider economic recovery policy development.

Potential Risk:

Support available may not be consistent leading to disparity in offers across Scotland. This could limit potential to engage with national employers and providers.

Mitigation:

1) Working with partners to establish current provision and put improvement plans in place.

2) New governance model in development to establish increased shared accountability.

3) Improved reporting and KPIs in development to understand local challenges.

Potential Risk:

Analytical resources and available data may not be sufficient to support assessment of supply and demand that would allow for more detailed planning or monitoring.

Mitigation:

1) Regular engagement with analysts and agencies.

2) Working with partners, including the UK Government, to ensure access to necessary data.

Potential Risk:

Due to competing priorities, employers may not engage with the Young Person's Guarantee or disengage from DYW.

Mitigation:

1) Regular engagement with employers (including through DYW) is underway.

2) 5 asks developed with employers.

3) 'DYW Futures' review is underway.

Potential Risk:

Lack of communications or other issues may stop young people from being able to access support available.

Mitigation:

1) A clear Communications Plan has been approved.

2) Continuous engagement with young people is ongoing.

3) Partnership agreements are in place between key partners to avoid duplication and confusion.

Potential Risk:

Delivery partners may make decisions that impact on Scottish Government interventions.

Mitigation:

1) We have established formal and informal relationships with delivery partners to continue discussions on provision available.

Potential Risk:

The third sector may be unable to commit to supporting long-term interventions.

Mitigation:

1) Regular engagement with third sector delivery partners including Inspiring Scotland, the Young Person's Consortium and Volunteering Matters to understand pressures.

2) A proportion of the local partnership funding will be commissioned out to the third sector.

Potential Risk:

Colleges and universities may be unable to deliver additional training and opportunities due to possible lack of resource.

Mitigation:

1) Regular engagement with further and higher education partners.

2) Regular engagement with students and their representative organisations.