DYW is deeply saddened by the passing of Sir Ian Wood and pays tribute to his significant and lasting contribution to education, skills and youth employment in Scotland.
Sir Ian Wood chaired the Commission for Developing Scotland’s Young Workforce, which was established in 2013 to consider how Scotland could reduce youth unemployment by strengthening career education, improving young people’s understanding of the world of work, and ensuring all young people could make informed and ambitious choices about their futures.
The Commission’s final report, ‘Education working for all!’, was published in June 2014 and set out 39 recommendations for change. One of those recommendations led to the formation of DYW Regional Groups, creating a national network designed to bring employers and education closer together for the benefit of young people across Scotland.
Sir Ian Wood’s leadership helped shape the relationship between education and industry in Scotland. While many independent reviews and commissions make recommendations to government, the Commission’s work was notable for the breadth of support it received and, more importantly, for the lasting change it helped create. Its recommendations continue to grow and develop through DYW’s work to improve outcomes for both young people and businesses across Scotland.
Since 2014, DYW Regional Groups have played an important role within Scotland’s youth education and skills landscape, bringing employers, education and skills organisations together to help young people prepare confidently for the world of work. In the past year alone, data from the DYW Employers Forum shows that Scotland’s 20 DYW Regional Groups worked with more than 6,500 employers to deliver over 16,000 employer-led activities, supporting more than 450,000 attendances by young people and creating meaningful, structured opportunities to engage with the world of work. While this work is delivered today by regional teams, employers, educators and partners across Scotland, its scale and continued impact reflect the lasting legacy of the Commission Sir Ian led and the change it helped set in motion.
Sandy Begbie CBE, Chair of the DYW Employers Forum said:
“Everyone across Developing the Young Workforce is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Sir Ian Wood.
“Sir Ian made an extraordinary contribution to Scotland, not only through business and civic life, but through his determination to improve opportunities for young people. His leadership of the Commission for Developing Scotland’s Young Workforce was a defining moment in how Scotland thought about the relationship between education, employers and young people’s futures.
“’The Education working for all!’ report helped create the foundations on which DYW was built. It challenged all of us – employers, educators, government and partners – to work differently and more collaboratively so that young people could better understand the world of work and access the opportunities they deserve.
“That vision continues to guide DYW today. Across Scotland, regional DYW groups work every day to connect schools, colleges and employers, supporting young people to build confidence, skills and ambition. That is a powerful and enduring legacy.
“On behalf of the DYW network, I offer our sincere condolences to Sir Ian’s family, friends, colleagues and all those who knew him.”
Sir Ian’s contribution will continue to be reflected in the work of DYW Regional Groups across Scotland, and in the ongoing commitment of employers, educators and partners to support young people into positive futures, to realise their potential, and to be given the chance to succeed in life.
