New scheme is helping jobless

Unemployed people in Oban and Fort William are being helped into work by a new multi-million pound support scheme.

Job Entry: Targeted Support (JETS) launched in Scotland in January as part of the UK government’s response to job losses caused by the Covid pandemic.

Now it has passed the 4,000 jobs mark across Scotland, months ahead of schedule.

The Wise Group works with 38 JobCentres across west and south-west Scotland in partnership with business process outsourcing company Capita to offer advice and support to participants who have been out of work for at least three months.

Already nine customers from Oban JobCentre, and 12 from Fort William JobCentre, have been helped into work and Wise Group chief executive Sean Duffy said: ‘JETS has been a hugely successful employability programme which has changed the lives of thousands of people across Scotland.

‘We’re incredibly proud of the part we have played in making it such a huge nationwide success across Scotland.

‘More than 40 per cent of participants find work during their six months on the programme, which is a remarkable success rate.

‘The pandemic was disastrous for almost every business sector in the country, costing many thousands of workers their jobs, so it’s been great to be part of a collaborative effort to help improve the lives of so many families in Argyll and Bute, as well as further afield.’

JETS participants work with a dedicated employment adviser after being referred to the programme by their JobCentre work coach and receive tailored support and advice on how to get back into work – help with CVs, interview tips and skills and job searching.

Ask your JobCentre Work Coach about being referred to JETS.