Young People Encouraged to be Career Ready

Dundee City Council is continuing to support the Career Ready initiative by giving young people paid internships to help them experience the potential work opportunities in a local authority.  

Over four weeks this summer, seven senior secondary pupils are experiencing different aspects of services during their internships across council and Leisure & Culture Dundee teams.  

The young people are benefiting from one-to-one support and guidance from a volunteer council mentor over the 17-month total period of the programme.  

In addition to the work experience itself the students benefited from their involvement in several other joint activities. The students are gaining certification for attending a life-saving training course provided by Heartstart Discovery. They also accompanied city centre ambassadors to see their work behind the scenes and were also given a tour of the City Chambers and met the Lord Provost. 

Young people taking part in 2025 are: 

• Alesha Robertson, Craigie High School, wants to become a primary school teacher. She is undertaking a varied internship at Craigiebarns Primary School and Claypotts Castle Early Years Centre, both of which have provided her with hands-on experience of working with young children. She is also keen to find out what it would be like to work in a business setting and spent time with the Tay Cities Region Deal team.  

• Charley Byrne, Baldragon Academy, is being mentored by the Customer Services & Benefit Delivery Team. Charley is interested in finance and economics, and it is her intention to apply for a relevant university course in this subject area when she leaves school. 

• Georgia Locke, St Paul’s RC Academy, is receiving an insight into the variety of services offered to the citizens of Dundee during her 4-week internship with the Customer Services, Council Tax & Benefit Delivery team. She gained skills in teamwork, communication and resilience. 

• Dominic Nelson, Harris Academy, is working with Community Learning & Development. He focused on digital projects and is also worked in the cafe at Douglas Community Centre which is providing him with additional skills supporting a larger team to deliver a customer service at a fast pace. 

• Ellis Milne, Braeview Academy, would like to pursue a career in child psychology. She is working with the Learning & Organisational Development team as well as the Tay Cities Region Deal team. This varied internship will help Ellis to develop further her skills in communication and teamwork and provide her with some valuable insight to working in a business environment. 

• Lohgan Ramsay, Braeview Academy, is being mentored by Leisure & Culture Dundee. Lohgan is keen to explore a career with children who have additional support needs. Her internship is being carried out at Kingspark School and Ballumbie Early Years Centre, where she is gaining an understanding of the variety of roles in the different settings. 

• Lucas McKenzie, Morgan Academy, is working worked with the Employability Service. Lucas is gaining skills and experience which will help him when he leaves school. These included communication, teamwork, I.T. skills and business partnering. 

The internships will culminate in the young people providing a presentation, which gives them an opportunity for them to speak about their experience to a number of interested parties such as Mhairi Prendergast, the Career Ready Regional Manager, their school coordinator, their mentors and workplace supervisors. 

Fair Work, Economic Growth and Infrastructure depute convener Cllr Siobhan Tolland said: “As an employer trying to encourage opportunities for young people, it is important that the council supports the Career Ready initiative.  

“This gives them invaluable insights into the work of the council, lets them understand what qualifications they will need and arms them with skills that will help in writing CVs and for interviews.]

“I wish them all well for their future and hope that their time being mentored in the council will inspire them to achieve their goals.”  

More details on the work of the Career Ready charity and paid internships are available at https://careerready.org.uk/scotland/