Published on:
08
May 2014
Five people have been helped into employment opportunities with local organisations since June 2013 as part of Clackmannanshire Council's Forth Coastal Project.
The project aims to create new training and employment opportunities for local residents within the emerging 'green' economy.
The Forth Coastal Project is using local professional organisations as hosts to create employment opportunities. Positions include assistant rangers with the Scottish Wildlife Trust, communication assistants with the Inner Forth Landscape Initiative, discovering nature apprenticeships with The Conservation Volunteers and a trainee ranger with Clackmannanshire Council.
Opportunities vary in work pattern from part time to full time and in length from six months to a year. Each position has a training budget associated to it to help maximise each person's potential.
Enterprise and Environment Convener Donald Balsillie said: "These opportunities give local people a real chance in the emerging job market. Recent years have seen sustainability and environmental issues hit the headlines on a regular basis.
"By creating these jobs now, we hope to give people some of the environmental experience and training to help them progress into full time work beyond the scope of the project."
The Forth Coastal Project is funded through the Coastal Communities Fund. This is a UK wide government fund which has a primary purpose to promote sustainable economic growth and jobs in coastal communities. Clackmannanshire Council won the bid for funding to help make a practical difference to communities along the river Forth.
Year two of the project is also part-funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund to help extend the work of the project and link it into the wider development of the Inner Forth Landscape Initiative.
Jochen, a first year Trainee Ranger with Clackmannanshire Council said: "I have gained some fantastic insight into the diversity of the river Forth, especially here in Clackmannanshire. The opportunity for employment provided through the Forth Coastal Project has seen me grow in many different ways. All the training, skills and experience that I have acquired will stand me in good stead for the future.
"For anyone who has an interest in conservation or the environment, this would be a wonderful opportunity to be part of a unique and diverse conservation project, which for me has the capacity to grow into an amazing model for other places to follow and adopt.
"I can only recommend the challenges and skills that can be learnt, as they do not often come along, so grab this opportunity to make a difference."
As the project approaches its second year of operation, further employment opportunities will be coming available over the coming weeks and months. Employment opportunities will be spotlighted as they come available on the Forth Coastal Project blog. This also gives regular updates on project developments and some snapshots of what year one trainees are currently doing.