Oban jobs event goes like a fair
OBAN Jobs Fair was busy on Tuesday, with people flocking to the event at the Corran Halls.
Organised in partnership by the Department of Work and Pensions, the event attracted around 30 employers who each had a stand with staff to talk to job seekers.
There was a wide variety of employers, including housing association ACHA, West Coast Motors, The Oban Times, Scottish Seafarms, Forestry Commission Scotland, Perle Hotels and Carers Direct Limited.
Eileen Downie, partnership manager with the department of work and pensions in Argyll and Bute was delighted with the number of people the event had attracted.
She said: ‘This is a fantastic opportunity to get adults and young people in front of employers. This is the fifth year we have held the event and we work with a number of partners to help organise it, including Argyll and Bute Council, which is important to the event’s success. We are grateful to Michael Russell MSP who sponsors the event.
‘Our register of job seekers and employers has changed. Where we had 1,500 people looking for jobs five years ago, that is now below 1,000. Care is a big employer in the region, as is hospitality and retail.
‘When we first held these events, they were initially for young people. Now our register shows only one in five job seekers is under 25. The highest proportion of jobs seekers are over 25.’
Stall holders included members of the local Forestry Comission Scotland team.
Joi MacLean told The Oban Times: ‘We are here to promote all the careers available in forestry across Scotland.
‘Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) is a diverse organisation, it's not just about planting or cutting down trees. We build forestry roads and are involved in renewable energy including hydro schemes and windfarms. We also manage forestry estates and are involved in recreational and commercial activities.
‘We come to the event every year as FCS contributes to the local economy and is a local employer. We’re looking for people of different ages and skills.’
West Coast Motors was attending the event for the first time.
Transport manager Russell Dods and engineer manager Neil Munro talked to potential recruits.
Mr Dods said: ‘This is our first time at Oban Jobs Fair. It is a chance for us to see who is out there. We’re primarily looking to recruit drivers.
‘Because of our location, it is not as easy to recruit drivers as it is in the cities, but this is a great opportunity to meet people and anyone we recruit will be fully trained.’
Also there for the first time were members of the Scottish Ambulance Service.
Leading ambulance technician Kevin Devine said: ‘This is the first year we have come to the event. There are limited vacancies in each area, but we are constantly recruiting for the whole of Scotland.
‘Once fully trained, we then send people out to the areas where there are vacancies.’