29 July 2009
Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy today welcomed the announcement of successful bids from organisations across Scotland to provide work for the long-term unemployed aged between 18 and 24 in Scotland.
The bids will see the creation of 2838 jobs in Scotland over the first six months, with more to follow along with a share of UK-wide bids. They represent an investment of almost £20m in Scotland's future at a difficult economic time. The first monthly deadline for the UK Government's Future Jobs Fund process came in June and subsequently saw the vast majority of Scottish bids accepted. Jobs have been created in each of the local authority areas across Scotland and the first are expected to begin in October.
These are the first jobs rolled out under the initiative although the bidding process will continue month by month and more jobs will be created up to April 2011. All of the organisations involved have committed to providing a level of support to sustain the jobs, which must pay at least the minimum wage and last at least six months at 25 hours or more a week.
The Secretary of State for Scotland Jim Murphy 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."
The successful Scottish bids in the first tranche of the Future Jobs Fund came from:
Table 1: The number of FJF jobs by local authority area
| Local Authority | FJF Jobs |
| Aberdeen City | 44 |
| Aberdeenshire | 15 |
| Angus | 28 |
| Argyll & Bute | 10 |
| Scottish Borders | 61 |
| Clackmannanshire | 22 |
| West Dunbartonshire | 169 |
| Dumfries & Galloway | 44 |
| Dundee City | 101 |
| East Ayrshire | 169 |
| East Dunbartonshire | 2 |
| East Lothian | 11 |
| East Renfrewshire | 4 |
| Edinburgh City | 191 |
| Falkirk | 47 |
| Fife | 83 |
| Glasgow | 467 |
| Highlands | 73 |
| Inverclyde | 128 |
| Midlothian | 51 |
| Moray | 7 |
| North Ayrshire | 92 |
| North Lanarkshire | 452 |
| Orkney | 6 |
| Perth & Kinross | 24 |
| Renfrewshire | 34 |
| Shetland | 4 |
| South Ayrshire | 54 |
| South Lanarkshire | 306 |
| Stirling | 38 |
| West Lothian | 57 |
| Eilean Siar | 44 |
| Total | 2,838 |
Table 2: Type of job created by sector
| Sector | Number of jobs recommended |
| Environmental | 1,204 |
| Administration - IT, Clerical | 257 |
| Conservation | 213 |
| Social Care/Community Based Work | 958 |
| Construction | 206 |
| Total | 2,838 |
The Future Jobs Fund was announced in the last Budget and is a UK-wide fund of around £1 billion to support the creation of jobs for long term unemployed young people and others who face significant disadvantage in the labour market. It is a challenge fund which invites organisations to submit bids for funding.
The Fund aims to create 150,000 jobs UK-wide, primarily aimed at 18-24 year olds who have been out of work for a year. The Government is keen to work with local authorities, social enterprises and charities to turn this important priority into a reality.