Supporting employment and skills in Scotland

The Bairdwatson Charitable Trust provides grants to registered charities in Scotland for work focused on employment and skills training for young people who are unemployed and re-training to get them back into work.

In addition to charities, the Trust may also consider funding social enterprises and similar community organisations that carry out charitable work.

The Bairdwatson Charitable Trust wouldn’t be possible without the late John Neil Bairdwatson, former Managing Director of Caldervale Engineering Services based in Airdrie. A company originally founded by his father and one he dedicated much of his life to. Mr Bairdwatson was passionate about education and employment and developed the idea of establishing a charitable Trust to which he would leave his shares in the business.

Unfortunately, he passed away before the Trust could be formed, but his widow ensured his legacy lived on by establishing the Trust in his name.  The Trust is now managed by a board of trustees, Robert Kerr, Jacqueline Leslie, Jane Wylie-Roberts, Audrey Espie, and newly appointed trustee Ian Parrack.

So far in 2025, the Bairdwatson Charitable Trust has already awarded funding to 12 organisations. One of these includes the Elgin Youth Development Group, which received funding to support young people in Moray through their employability programme. The programme offers paid work experience to young people aged 16-25 years who face significant barriers to employment that are beyond their control.

Placements are offered in hospitality, catering, venue roles, administration and social media.  Trainees gain skills relevant to these sectors and are also supported in developing transferable skills for future employment.

Last year, they supported 22 trainees through the programme with 27% gaining employment, 18% entering further education and training, and 36% accessing specialist support, with the remaining trainees still on placements.

The Bairdwatson Charitable Trust is committed to making a lasting impact by continuing to support charitable organisations through ongoing contributions, with the next round of funding opening shortly.