This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Business programme for offenders
21/03/2006
A business programme which helps young offenders develop skills, knowledge and confidence to deal with future career opportunities is now operating.
Deputy First Minister Nicol Stephen today visited HM Young Offenders Institute Polmont to see first hand the work of the Young Enterprise Scotland (YES) programme.
Backed by the Scottish Executive's Determined to Succeed Division, the scheme allows participants to benefit from learning business skills and turning their ideas into real business ventures.
The course aims to equip young people with the skills, knowledge and confidence needed to enter the job market on their release from custody as well as improving behaviour, attitudes and relations with others.
Mr Stephen said:
"This course helps the young people involved to have the confidence and courage to pitch their business idea in an articulate and business like manner and convince us of their future potential.
"We want to ensure that all young people, regardless of their circumstances, have the skills to compete in the job market and the knowledge to make informed careers choices.
"Through the work of Determined to Succeed we are seeing the impact that new, enterprising activities are having on the young people of Scotland.
"This visit to Polmont has reinforced for me the importance of our focus on young people and the value that lies in enabling them to experience new and exciting opportunities in life."
Tim Allan, deputy chair YES, said:
"The programme operating within the Young Offenders Institution Polmont illustrates the wide variety of Enterprise in Education programmes now being offered by YES.
"Giving young people the opportunity to set up and operate a real business clearly gives them a number of enhanced skills and a life changing experience.
"It is clear that the young men participating in our programme have achieved very impressive levels of performance in a relatively short time.
"Their business presentation shows a good understanding of how a business operates and, like any other Young Enterprise company; they have overcome a significant number of difficult issues to ensure success. Everyone involved with YES is delighted to support this innovative and worthwhile initiative."
Polmont Governor Bill Millar said:
"This programme is a valuable enhancement to the range of interventions we aim to provide for the young men.
"Many of them will never have had the opportunity to explore their own business ideas and, as this programme has shown, there is great potential in some of these young men.
"We are delighted to be working with Young Enterprise Scotland in nurturing and supporting what might even be the entrepreneurs of tomorrow."
The YES programme is also running at Corton Vale Prison.