Training and support agencies invited to join Aberdeen employability project
14 June 2018
Training providers and support agencies in Aberdeen are being offered the opportunity to join Aberdeen City Council in a £2.2million project aimed at helping city residents into employment.
Organisations are invited to join the Employability Pipeline – Progress Through Positive Partnerships project, which is designed to provide support and tailored assistance to develop employment and vocational skills for city residents.
Part-funded by the European Social Fund (ESF), the project, which forms part of the City Centre Masterplan, will see the council work in partnership with a wide range of training and development organisations, including charities, to provide increased employability services.
The project will establish and develop a strategic employability pipeline, improving the co-ordination of service provision and ensuring that those in need of it receive local support tailored specifically to address their individual needs.
The project places particular emphasis on the regeneration areas of Middlefield, Torry, Woodside, Seaton and Tillydrone, where increased levels of support will be offered, providing additional opportunities to help those people facing multiple barriers to employment move closer to the labour market by enabling them to develop relevant skills based on their individual needs and abilities.
As well as the geographic areas, the project will also focus on specific groups, including: unemployed; those in low-paid employment; clients in recovery; women returners; care leavers; those for whom English is not their first language; ethnic minorities; people facing other disadvantages, including those with long term health issues, disabilities, alcohol or drug misuse issues; ex-offenders; and care leavers. Workers in the retail, care, security and service sectors employed on zero hours contracts or who are underemployed and who wish to secure additional hours or more stable, less precarious employment, will also be targeted.
Council officers are keen to encourage a range of training providers and support agencies to tender to offer more support services to ensure the breadth of provision to meet the needs of the project’s beneficiaries.
Aberdeen City Council Co-Leader Councillor Jenny Laing said: “Aberdeen is undergoing one of the largest transformation programmes our city has ever seen and as part of this transformation Aberdeen City Council aim to improve the quality of life for residents. If we are to prosper as a city it is vitally important that we invest in our people as well as the place and we believe this project will provide local residents with the opportunity to develop skills which will help them to move into the work place.”
Councillor Laing added: “As our city is transforming Aberdeen City Council look forward to working in partnership with numerous organisations from across the region on this exciting new venture.”
The ESF is contributing £880,000 (40%) of the project funding.
More information is available on the Public Contracts Scotland website https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/ The closing date for bids is 29 June.