Published on:
18
April 2018
Scotland’s newly devolved employability services began delivering services to people across Clackmannanshire at the beginning of this month.
This marks the start of the Scottish Government’s £96 million devolved employability service, Fair Start Scotland, which delivers locally targeted employment support for people further from the jobs market.
Fair Start Scotland will be available across Scotland, with the service in Clackmannanshire delivered by Clackmannanshire Council through its Clackmannanshire Works team .
Employability Minister Jamie Hepburn said: “From today Fair Start Scotland will provide support for a minimum of 38,000 people across Scotland who are further from the jobs market and who want help to find and stay in work.
“This service has been designed nationally and tailored to Scotland’s needs. While the standard of service provision will be consistent across the country, it is being delivered locally meaning that Fair Start Scotland support reflects the needs of the local economy and employers.
“We want this new service to be seen as an opportunity. That’s why participating in Fair Start Scotland is voluntary, so people can choose to participate, rather than being driven by the fear of sanctions.”
Council Leader Ellen Forson, who formally launched the new service today at an event for partner agencies in Alloa Town Hall, said: “This new service will help local job seekers by giving them personalised support to help them into the job opportunities that businesses in Clackmannanshire are looking to fill – and very importantly will be free of the threat of benefit sanctions. I look forward to seeing the difference that this new service can make to local people.”