22 Jan 2001
Over 500 Scots have found new jobs through a Government initiative to tackle unemployment blackspots. Working Links, the public/private partnership running the Glasgow Employment Zone, is achieving real results, Scotland Office Minister Brian Wilson said today.
Officially opening Working Links’ new Glasgow premises, Mr Wilson said:
"The number of people in jobs is at a 40 year high, but there are still pockets of Scotland where there is long-term unemployment and households without anyone working. The Employment Zone is all about tackling these ingrained problems.
"We have seen long-term youth unemployment drop by over 70 per cent since 1998 thanks to the personalised style of the New Deal. Now there are great results from the same kind of approach in the Glasgow Employment Zone.
"Through the combined expertise of the public and private sectors, people without jobs for at least 18 months have a head start in moving into work. The personal action plan links their skills and ambitions to their employment targets, while Personal Job Accounts can be used to meet training and travel costs.
"Now 500 people have already started new jobs thanks to Working Links. That’s not just a statistic, it represents 500 Glasgow families with improved skills, some extra cash, and the confidence that having a job brings."
NOTES FOR NEWS EDITORS
1. Mr Wilson also met Robert McBain today, the 500th person to find a job through the Employment Zone. Media can obtain further information from Young Publicity on 0141 419 9191.
2. The Glasgow Employment Zone, launched by the Government in June 2000, helps those over 25 and unemployed for more than 18 months. It is run by Working Links, a partnership between the Employment Service, Manpower plc and Ernst & Young.
3. The Glasgow EZ receives funding of £9.5m over 2 years from the Government, along with a further £1.5m from the Scottish Government.