85 new jobs to be created in Argyll

JIM MURPHY ANNOUNCES UK GOVERNMENT FUNDING FOR 300 MORE SCOTTISH JOBS

More than 300 new community-focused jobs in Fife and Argyll and Bute are to be funded via the latest round of the UK Government’s Future Jobs Fund, Jim Murphy announced today.

The Secretary of State made the announcement in Glasgow, where he was hosting the National Jobs Summit in Easterhouse with the Scottish Government, the STUC and CBI Scotland.

120 delegates drawn from local authorities, the voluntary sector, business community, unions, colleges and universities are due to attend the Jobs Summit. Its aim is to identify ways in which the UK and Scottish Governments and stakeholders can continue to work together to ensure Scotland’s workforce is supported through the recession, and well positioned to take advantage of the upturn in the economy when it arrives.

Three bids have been approved in the sixth monthly round of the Future Jobs Fund – two from Argyll and Bute and one from Fife - providing funding for a total of 323 posts by 2011 in areas including recycling, conservation, retail, administration and construction.

Jim Murphy said:

"The signs are that Scotland is, thankfully, through the worst. But things will still be difficult for many people and it’s absolutely imperative that we don’t allow unemployment to continue to rise in the same way as it did after previous recessions.

“That’s why we are here in Glasgow today to make sure that we continue to work together towards economic recovery as ‘Team Scotland’. That’s why, since July, the Government has approved more than 7,500 new jobs worth around £40m for Scots who have been in long-term unemployment.

“And that’s why I am announcing funds for more than 300 new jobs through the Future Jobs Fund today. These jobs are designed to give people who have been out of work a long time, and particularly young people, the experience and confidence that will help them find long term work, and that will be essential to help Scotland move out of recession.”

Lucinda McAllister, team leader, development services at of Fife Council, said:

“The partnership in Fife led by Fife Council worked with local employers to put together a quality Future Jobs Fund proposal. We are delighted to receive FJF funding for 238 posts.

“In the current economic climate this is an important opportunity for local young people to gain full-time employment.”

The successful Scottish bids in the sixth round of the Future Jobs Fund came from:

Argyll and Bute Council Employability Team - 50 green sector roles to be filled by 18-24 long-term unemployed in the Argyll and Bute area. The roles include village hall environmental assistants, project craftwork environmental assistants, research assistant, and handyperson.

Argyll Training - 35 jobs of which 23 are to be filled by 18-24 long-term unemployed and 12 to be reserved for 25+ long term unemployed in the Argyll and Bute area. Of the proposed jobs, 15 will be green sector roles. The roles include local produce assistant, social enterprise administrative assistant, marketing assistant, cultural heritage assistant, and social enterprise catering assistant.

Fife Council – 238 jobs of which approximately two-thirds are to be filled by 18-24 long-term unemployed and one-third are to be reserved for 25+ long term unemployed. The roles include trainee play services support worker, trainee administrative support assistant, trainee domestic assistant, trainee radiology clinical support worker, and student mentor.


Notes provided....

The Future Jobs Fund, announced in the last Budget, is a UK-wide fund worth around £1bn to support the creation of around 150,000 jobs for long term unemployed people aged 18-24 and others who face significant disadvantage in the labour market. It is a challenge fund which invites organisations to submit bids for funding, usually for community-focused posts.

Jobs have been created in every local authority area across Scotland. All of the organisations involved have committed to providing a level of support to sustain the jobs, which must pay at least the minimum wage and last at least six months at 25 hours or more a week.

Employers can submit bids to the fund at any time - full details of the process can be found on the DWP website - http://campaigns.dwp.gov.uk/campaigns/futurejobsfund/

Bids are assessed against key criteria:

- That the jobs will be real jobs – paying at least national minimum wage, for at least 25 hours a week, and lasting six months;
- That the jobs will be additional - in other words that they would not have happened without the Future Jobs Fund;
- That they are suitable for long-term unemployed young people;
- The work undertaken must be of benefit to the local community; and
- A significant proportion of the jobs must be deliverable quickly.