New training opportunities to support city residents into work

01 February 2018

New training and work experience opportunities are available to people taking part in an innovative employability project.

Aberdeen City Council has awarded a contract to CFINE (Community Food Initiatives North East) to deliver dozens of placements to help people on their journey towards employment as part of the Progress Through Positive Partnerships project.

The social enterprise will provide a range of six week training and work experience courses across several disciplines. Training is available in warehouse; deliveries; administration; customer service, and as a food bank or cookery class assistant, as well as in the organisation’s FareShare service. Project participants who undertake training with CFINE will also have the opportunity to gain qualifications in basic manual handling, food hygiene and cookery training, as well as access advice from the organisation’s in-house team on benefits and budgeting.

Progress Through Positive Partnerships, which is part-funded by the European Structural Fund (ESF), provides participants with support and tailored assistance to develop employment and vocational skills.

Part of the City Centre Masterplan, the project has brought together a number of organisations to offer a wide range of training, support, work experience and volunteering opportunities to individuals facing multiple barriers to employment.. CFINE joins Realise, SHMU, Pathways, Aberdeen Foyer, Tullos Training and a number of council services in providing support for Progress Through Positive Partnerships participants. As well as the CFINE offering, the training available includes engineering, welding, care, computing, childminding and early years, CV building, job seeking and interview skills, literacy, numeracy and language support, media skills, cookery, horticulture, grounds maintenance, animal care, and outdoor pursuits.

The £2.2million project, which has secured £880,000 (40%) from the ESF, is primarily targeting Middlefield, Torry, Woodside, Seaton and Tillydrone by providing increased levels of support and additional opportunities to help people with multiple barriers to move closer to the labour market by enabling them to develop relevant skills based on their individual needs and abilities. Other city residents facing multiple barriers to employment can also participate.

Aberdeen City Council Communities, Housing and Infrastructure Convener, Councillor Yvonne Allan, said: “Progress Through Positive Partnerships is a vital component of our strategy to ensure a prosperous future for the citizens of Aberdeen.

“This project is about investing in people to develop the city’s workforce and is reliant on giving each individual the best opportunity to fulfil their potential and improve their lives.

“Progress Through Positive Partnerships will establish and develop a strategic employability pipeline. It will improve the co-ordination of service provision and ensure that those in need of it receive local support tailored specifically to address their individual needs.”

“We look forward to working with CFINE and our other providers in the months ahead. The contract awards to established organisations, each with their own specialisms and track record, demonstrate the commitment being made to delivering the best solutions for the individuals taking part.”

Fiona Rae, Deputy Chief Executive, CFINE said "CFINE are delighted to be awarded the contract for Progress Through Positive Partnerships"

There are a number of exciting projects within the organisation and we can offer individuals so many new training opportunities, which can all be tailored to ensure that everyone gets the best experience from their placement"

Each project participant is assigned a key worker, who will help identify barriers to work as well as the aspirations of each individual before creating a bespoke action plan, with the ultimate aim of securing work, training, education or volunteering opportunities.

For more information or to register an interest in the project, visit www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/esfgetstarted