Cash boost to help people into work

HIGHLANDS and Islands organisations are to benefit from contracts worth up to £6.2 million to help people find and stay in work.

Argyll and Bute, Moray, Orkney Islands and the Shetland Islands will also benefit from the new Fair Start Scotland service from next April.

Employability Minister Jamie Hepburn confirmed employment support services will be delivered by People Plus Ltd, in partnership with Lochaber Hope, Argyll and Bute Council, Life Skills Centres Ltd, Momentum Scotland, Third Sector Hebrides and 2020 Clearview Ltd.

The Scottish Government is already using its new powers through the Scotland Act to deliver one-year transitional employment support services to help unemployed people across Scotland, ahead of the full roll-out in 2018.

Speaking in the Scottish Parliament, Mr Hepburn said the award of the Fair Start Scotland contracts in nine areas reflected Scotland’s different geographies, economies and population spread.

‘Crucially people’s participation in Fair Start Scotland will be voluntary. It will work with unemployed people to help and encourage them to see employment support as an opportunity, rather than being driven by the threat of financial sanctions,’ he said.

‘Our priority is that people receive high quality services, designed for their local needs and that they are treated fairly and with respect.’

Diane Martyn of PeoplePlus Group Limited added: ‘We look forward to delivering an innovative and integrated approach for this service.’