OUR WORK PROSPECTS HAVE REALLY IMPROVED
Employment scheme helps people find perfect jobs
Unemployed people in North Lanarkshire are being given the tools and skills to find work through an innovative project.
Through their Prospects programme, North Lanarkshire’s Working has helped people in the local authority area find a variety of new jobs in career choices that work for them.
This unique service sees the team at North Lanarkshire’s Working help anyone aged over 16, jobless and finding it difficult to secure work in the area.
Here , we take a look at some people in the community who have found their ideal job through North Lanarkshire’s Working.
Craig Ramsay is a team leader with Murray Landscapes and, when the 31-year-old arrived at the scheme’s Routes to Work, he was keen to return to a position he enjoyed and was trained for.
He already had 13 years’ experience in the grounds maintenance and landscaping industry to draw on and his caseworker was able to help find the roles that suited Craig’s experience best.
After working closely with his caseworker on developing his CV, interview skills and making job applications, it didn’t take Craig long to find a position that was the perfect fit.
One successful interview later and a new role in landscaping was secured. Since embarking on his new journey with Murray Landscapes, Craig has been promoted to maintenance team leader, a role he is enjoying and excelling in.
Craig said of the job-finding programme: “I could contact them on a daily basis, I could go in to the office when I needed.
“They helped with my CV as well which was great as I didn’t really know what I was doing with that.”
Teenager Scott Burton, 17, left school in June 2016 with only a few qualifications because he felt school was not really for him.
He was unsure what he wanted to do but knew he did not feel particularly academic and would prefer something where he could learn on the job.
In the summer, Scott’s friend was going to meet with Routes to Work and Scott decided to tag along. He signed up and started working with his caseworker on his CV, interview skills and job applications.
When the opportunity arose to become a trainee sign maker at family-run company Key Signs, Scott was delighted.
It was a local apprenticeship, which meant he could learn on the job and was convenient to travel to.
Scott said: “I am absolutely loving my job at Key Signs. I knew I didn’t want to go to college or university and was a little nervous about not finding a job. When I went along to meet Routes to Work, I had no idea what they might be able to offer me.
“But they helped me gain the confidence to start applying for jobs and then they matched me with this job at Key Signs.”
Prospects can offer the following to people looking for employment:
A bespoke journey back to work; confidence-building courses; training and up-skilling; CV and interview help; one-to-one support and money advice; childcare support.
In addition to all the support, and possibly the most important aspect of North Lanarkshire’s Working, is that they offer people access to an exclusive network of local jobs.