Investment of more than £90 million will address long-term unemployment, boost economic growth and tackle child poverty according to the Deputy First Minister, Kate Forbes, who made the announcement on Monday.
In the Scottish Budget £90 million has been set aside for the next financial year to help up to 7,500 people into work. These are people who have not been in work for some time and many more are expected to benefit from qualifications and training.
The initiatives set up by the government include a £40 million package to help parents at risk of poverty into jobs and training. The sum of £5 million will be invested in specialist services, helping disabled people to access meaningful employment – and to sustain them in these jobs. The sum of £39 million will support people towards employment with the No One Left Behind scheme. These will be coupled with a major marketing campaign providing parents with advice to get them into work.
Visiting McTaggart Construction, a business celebrating its 80th anniversary which provides on-site training to help people into work as part of the Scottish Government’s No One Left Behind approach, Ms Forbes said:
“Our employability services are helping people into work who may otherwise face barriers to employment due to factors such as illness, disability or simply taking time out to have a family. With the involvement of employers like McTaggart Construction, we are building people’s confidence and providing access to new skills.
“Tackling economic inactivity is a win-win situation – it boosts the economy and tackles child poverty by providing families with a secure income – and our £90 million Budget commitment will enable more people to access employment support.”
Liam Long, a new dad secured training and then a full-time job at McTaggart Construction with the support of No One Left Behind services after being out-of-work due to a period of illness, said:
“Coming through the All in Glasgow programme and First Step Future Training gave me the opportunity to get my foot in the door. That placement opened the door to a permanent role with McTaggart Construction.
“I’ve just become a dad, and the two weeks’ paternity pay meant everything to me. I’m proud to work for a company that genuinely invests in its people and supports them through moments in life.”
