North Lanarkshire Council has introduced a new initiative to provide more opportunities for unemployed residents in the local area.

The Into Work North Lanarkshire project is promoting job opportunities within the council through programmes like Skillseekers, Modern Apprenticeships, Supported Employment and Customised Training.

These programmes offer young people, unemployed residents and people with a learning disability access to training and work experience in a range of work environments. In some cases, individuals will combine working with studying for a recognised qualification that will help them develop their career further.

Councillor Tom Maginnis, Convener of the Economic Regeneration Committee, said:

"As a major employer in the area, the council is committed to providing opportunities for training and employment within our services. The Into Work North Lanarkshire project offers a variety of training programmes to suit the interests and needs of people of all ages, experience and backgrounds. It gives people the chance to gain valuable training and work experience across the wide range of jobs and services that we have within the council. Throughout these programmes, participants receive support from our staff to help them with the demands of a new job and to achieve a qualification."

Councillor Gerry McElroy, Convener of the Policy and Resources (Personnel) Sub Committee, said:

"The council takes its responsibilities to promote social inclusion very seriously and Into Work North Lanarkshire is a good example of this policy in action. This corporate initiative gives a range of people, regardless of their circumstances, the chance to get the training they need to get their first job, the additional skills required for a new job or the opportunity to retrain in a new area of employment. Into Work North Lanarkshire is giving people a chance to learn new skills and fulfil their potential by taking the first steps to a rewarding career."

Supported employment matches people with a learning disability, mental health issues or acquired brain injury to jobs that suits their skills and interests through intensive support packages. Job coaches work alongside the individual to learn the job and provide support until they and their employer are confident in the post. The scheme has proved very successful with both employees and employers.

Customised training offers short training courses designed to give participants the skills and knowledge to gain entry-level vacancies within the council. The courses run for six to ten weeks and combine off-the-job training with hands-on work experience within the council. Training programmes are offered in areas such as catering, administration, and home care services. The scheme is open to anyone aged 18 or over who is unemployed or is part of a local large scale redundancy or is in receipt of incapacity benefit.

Modern apprenticeships provide 16 to 18 year olds with job-specific training programmes and allow them to gain a nationally recognised qualification without having to study full-time. These programmes are available in a range of occupational areas including administration, sport and recreation, amenity horticulture, catering and civil engineering. Apprentices have employee status within the council and receive a salary while studying for between one and four years depending on the qualification. Study will be completed through day release, work-based training and assessment, or both.

Skillseekers is a training programme giving 16 to 18 year olds a recognised qualification as well as valuable work experience and skills. In North Lanarkshire, 90% of trainees have successfully secured employment within the council. Skillseekers have regular contact with workplace supervisors and an assessor who provide support and guidance throughout the placement. Opportunities are available in a wide range of fields including leisure and sports facilities, libraries, early years care and education, parks and grounds maintenance and office administration.

A customised training programme helped Margaret Mary Rendall obtain a clerical assistant in the council’s housing benefits team. "My background was in the retail sector as a manager and company buyer but I was made redundant after 21 years service. At the job centre I expressed an interest in working for the council but explained I was having difficulty gaining an interview. My advisor put me forward for the customised training course. I found the course invaluable. The work-based training was excellent. We were assigned a mentor in the workplace who devised a training programme and was on hand to provide support and feedback on a daily basis. It helped me to develop the key skills and knowledge required to work for the council. I would recommend the customised training course to anyone interested in pursuing a career within North Lanarkshire Council."

Lisa Graham joined the Skillseeker programme on leaving school. "I was really pleased when I obtained a place and I saw the programme as an opportunity to prove I could be independent. The programme gave me the opportunity to gain real work experience and built up my confidence to apply for a job in the council." Lisa is currently working as a clerical assistant at John Smith Pool in Airdrie and is undertaking a Modern Apprenticeship in Administration.

For more information on the Into Work project, phone 01698 302097.

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