£20 million jobs scheme launched

Published on Wednesday 29 July 2009 11:14

NEARLY 2,000 jobs for the long-term unemployed will be created across Scotland after successful bids for funding, it was announced today.

A total of 2,838 posts will be created in six months, with the first jobs expected to start in October.

It represents an investment of almost 20 million into Scotland after organisations across the country submitted bids to the UK Government's Future Jobs Fund.

The Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy welcomed the news to help find work for those aged between 18 and 24.

He said: "This is great news for Scotland and a significant first step for the Future Jobs Fund. It is a good example of the UK Government acting decisively to tackle youth unemployment to ensure we do not abandon a generation of young people as happened in previous recessions.

"These are real jobs which will give real help to the long term unemployed alongside the skills, experience and knowledge they need to return to the workforce, providing support where it is needed most.

"We have a huge responsibility to unemployed Scots and we are doing everything we can to make a difference. If we work together, we will get through this recession together."

"I am looking forward to seeing how the Future Jobs Fund develops in Scotland and hope to visit some of the successful bidders shortly," he added.

The first deadline for applications was in June this year.

The bidding process will continue month by month and more jobs will be created up to April 2011.

Jobs have been created in each of the local authority areas across Scotland. The jobs must pay at least the minimum wage and last at least six months with 25 hours of work or more a week.

The work includes construction posts, social care and administration roles.

Successful bidders included the Dundee Partnership, Fife Council, Midlothian Council, Angus Council, Scottish Forestry Commission, West Lothian Council, Aberdeen City Council and North Lanarkshire Council.

North Lanarkshire will see the most jobs created with 452 posts and South Lanarkshire will see 306 positions.

The Future Jobs Fund aims to create 150,000 jobs across the UK focusing on people aged between 18 and 24 who have been out of work for a year.