Funding is secured for 77 new jobs

SEVENTY-SEVEN new jobs are set to be created in Clackmannanshire as part of a UK Government initiative to get young unemployed people into work.

The funding, from the Future Jobs Fund, was secured following a successful bid by Clackmannanshire Alliance. The jobs will be created in the public, private and voluntary sector and it is hoped the first positions will be filled in early November.

Alliance chair Janet Cadenhead told the Advertiser, "I'm delighted at how people have worked together to bring these jobs to the county. There has been a lot of work done in a short time.

"Although they are not all permanent jobs they will be teaching skills. Particularly the private sector jobs will be looking to train people and as the business grows they will be looking for the employees to grow with them."

The funding has secured the jobs for a minimum of six months.

Ms Cadenhead added that people needed to get into the work habit at a young age as it can be easy to fall out of the work chain completely. She went on, "We are very keen to get people into work. If you leave school and don't get into the work routine you miss so much in life - a lot of social life and confidence can be gained from working.

"These jobs are a result of the Westminster Government coming through for us in Scotland."

The jobs will be created in a variety of areas including administration, construction, environmental, leisure, artistic and social types of work.

Potential candidates will be initially identified at the local Job Centre who will recommend the individual to Clackmannanshire Works, the Alliance's employment service. Candidates need to have been registered unemployed for at least nine months to qualify.

David Haswell, chair of the Clackmannanshire Economic Development Partnership Team and General Manager of Threadguards Ltd, said, "From an economic development point of view, we are sure that this will help to kickstart economic growth and create high quality long term employment for Clackmannanshire."

MP for Ochil and South Perthshire Gordon Banks was delighted with the news and said it was a real shot in the arm for Clackmannanshire. He added, "Of the £95 million allocated to Scotland through the Scotland Office it is really important that Clackmannanshire has been one of the areas to benefit early from the programme.

"This shows how committed the UK Government is to getting people back into work. What is important now is turning the plan for these jobs into a reality and I look forward to this proceeding without delay."