Employers are offered grant support to help young people successfully enter the workforce
Posted on 25 Jul 2024
Employers across North Ayrshire are being encouraged to join a programme that offers grants to businesses which create job opportunities for young people.
North Ayrshire Local Employability Partnership (LEP) is made up of a range of partners who use their combined resources to help reduce unemployment and increase employment across North Ayrshire.
The area has the highest level of youth unemployment in Scotland, and the Partnership – which includes North Ayrshire Council – is supporting hundreds of unemployed young people to make positive life changes and progress to employment.
Local employers are being invited to create opportunities for young people to secure employment and thrive through a Personal Recruitment Incentive (PRI) for young people that was launched recently.
The PRI offers a grant to employers of up to £5,500 - 50 per cent of the Real Living Wage - for up to 35 hours per week for up to 26 weeks.
This opportunity is exclusively available to young people currently preparing for employment through the support delivered by the Your Next Move, Working North Ayrshire programme – which is part of the Council’s employability service.
The team will aim to match suitable candidates with businesses and can arrange interviews and work experience placements to lead to employment offers.
Councillor Tony Gurney, Cabinet Member for Green Environment and Economy, explained: “This programme offers local employers a great chance to find reliable candidates locally for their workforce and help to boost the North Ayrshire economy while giving a young person a chance to reach their full potential.
“We all remember someone who provided an opportunity to start our career, and now we are looking to local employers to provide that chance to young people who are currently unemployed and are keen and enthusiastic to join the workforce.”
If you can create a job, please complete the online form here: PRI Grant Application Form
If you are a local employer and would like to find out more about the Personal Recruitment Incentive, please email employability@north-ayrshire.gov.uk
The Council’s Employability Service delivers a range of support through its Your Next Move, Working North Ayrshire programme.
Contracted partners delivering Your Next Move, Working North Ayrshire include We Work for Families and CEIS Ayrshire, who all contribute to delivering a wide range of support to help individuals prepare and progress into employment.
To access any of the opportunities delivered by Your Next Move, Working North Ayrshire please email employability@north-ayrshire.gov.uk
You can also find out how Your Next Move, Working North Ayrshire can help you with things like CVs, application forms, Modern Apprenticeships, paid work experience, interview techniques and secure employment at Help finding work (north-ayrshire.gov.uk)
Follow the team on Facebook at Working North Ayrshire.