Hundreds of job opportunities are being created in North Lanarkshire thanks to partnerships between North Lanarkshire’s Working and local employers.
North Lanarkshire’s Working, a project which helps groups such as the long-term unemployed and lone parents back into work, is currently working with more than 100 employers to find employment and training opportunities for local people.
Opportunities include Second Chance Apprenticeships (for 18-24 year olds), six-month work placements for young people and jobs with public sector organisations such as North Lanarkshire Council and NHS Lanarkshire. There are opportunities in a wide range of industries, from retail and hospitality to social care, construction and administration.
For example, since the start of 2009, 58 young people have started the Second Chance Apprenticeship programme, 38 of whom have already secured employment with local companies.
Some of the employers working with the North Lanarkshire’s Working team include DPI Print in Newhouse, Eterniti Steel in Bellshill, Martec Engineering in Cambuslang and Saltire Facilities Management in Cumbernauld.
Maureen McConachie, Head of Regeneration Services at North Lanarkshire Council, said:
“The joined-up approach we’ve taken, working closely local businesses is clearly effective. The North Lanarkshire’s Working project as a whole has supported over 8,000 people and helped nearly 1,900 people back to work since it began in April 2008 with funding from the European Union.
“We’re committed to ensuring that the long-term unemployed, lone parents and school-leavers in North Lanarkshire are given the support they need to succeed in the workplace, and that businesses are provided with help to make the recruitment process as smooth as possible.”
An employer’s view – Eterniti Steels, Bellshill
Mark Allard is Managing Director of Eterniti Steels, the UK’s largest independent steel plate stockholder. The company recently opened a base in Bellshill in North Lanarkshire and worked with North Lanarkshire’s Working to recruit unemployed people for the new plant.
Mark explained: “Through a programme called Extra Hands, we took on a young guy for six months to help out for a bit. There was no obligation to keep him on afterwards but he worked out really well and we’ve now taken him on for a permanent apprenticeship as a trainee profile burner.
“As part of his apprenticeship, David gets training at college, which is all sorted out by North Lanarkshire’s Working and they also provided customised training for him before he started with us so he was more job-ready than your average 17-year-old.
“For us, one of the biggest advantages was employing someone who had already been vetted and interviewed, someone the team at North Lanarkshire’s Working knew would be right for Eterniti Steels. Recruitment can be a drawn-out difficult process and there’s no guarantee that someone you like in an interview will work out once they’re in the job.
“Doing it through North Lanarkshire’s Working meant that we had a sort of unofficial trial period, we got time to see if he worked out before deciding if we would keep him on. The fact that his salary was subsidised meant it was less of a risk and we were more inclined to give him a chance.
“I’ve been really impressed with the support we’ve had since taking David on. We haven’t just been left to get on with it, the team at North Lanarkshire’s Working has kept in regular contact with me and with David to see how it’s going and help sort out any issues that crop up.”
An employee’s view – Graham Ferns, Martec Engineering
Graham Ferns, 25, from Coatbridge, secured a Second Chance Apprenticeship with Martec Engineering after being made redundant from his previous job as a pipe fitter.
He explained: “I was unemployed for a while after being paid off and was keen to get back to work. I found out about the Second Chance Apprenticeship scheme through the job centre and managed to get a place at Motherwell College.
“During the 12-week course, we were matched up with local employers and 10 weeks in, I secured a full-time apprenticeship with Martec Engineering. I’m now working there as a trainee metal fabricator and will be fully qualified in four years’ time.”
