East Lothian Council handed £188,000 to boost job skills

EAST Lothian Council has received £188,000 as part of a national skills development programme to strengthen Scotland's workforce.

Scottish Government Education Secretary Michael Russell made the announcement this week.

The STUC, organisations within the third sector, community planning partnerships, Skills Development Scotland and the Scottish Funding Council are topping up 64.6 million of European Structural Funds to deliver a total investment of 168m. The funding will help provide employability and training services for the unemployed, the lowest paid and people from deprived areas.

Councillor Stuart MacKinnon, East Lothian Council's economic development spokesman, said: "It is important that during the current economic downturn we offer support to those people who are most vulnerable to the prevailing economic conditions."