After more than 1,300 people benefited from the success of a Perth and Kinross initiative in getting people into training or employment, it has been showcased to the Scottish Government.
At an event at Perth and Kinross Council’s Employability Hub on South Street, Perth, it was explained how money from the European Social Fund (ESF) had been effectively used to get local people into work.
The Scottish Government is the managing authority for ESF programmes north of the border and is carrying out a fact finding mission across Tayside.
At the Perth event, the Scottish Government programme and project management officer Fiona Ainslie, met representatives from construction company Kilmac with which the employability hub has worked closely.
She also spoke to employability hub staff to find out more about the work they do to help unemployed people find jobs including wage incentives for potential employers, outreach work and running the council’s skills academy.
It was also an opportunity to discuss the recent launch of a new Perth and Kinross Employability Pipeline and Positive Futures project, both of which have been funded by the ESF.
The new pipeline will bring different organisations together which can offer help to people seeking work while the Positive Futures project will offer confidential, free and impartial advice and assistance on a range of issues.
Convener of the council’s enterprise and infrastructure committee, Councillor Colin Stewart congratulated the employability hub staff for their “sterling work” in getting local unemployed people into sustainable jobs.
“Their efforts and dedication are exemplary and a fine example of best practice,” he said.
“The employability hub supported over 1,300 individuals into employment or training last year alone.
“I would urge both employers seeking to recruit locally and jobseekers to make contact with the employability hub or its outreach service.
“It can not only help job seekers become ‘job ready’ by boosting their employability skills, and enabling them to gain sustainable employment but it can also offer employers suitable candidates to fill any vacancies they are looking to recruit to.”
