Help getting into employment

More than 33 people every month have been helped into a new job, training or education by Dundee’s employability pathway programmes since 2019, according to new figures. 

A report set to go before Dundee City Council’s city development committee reveals the 41% increase in those achieving a positive destination over pre-2019 numbers, despite the challenges posed by Covid-19. 

Mark Flynn, convener of Dundee City Council’s city development committee, said: “There is absolutely no question that the economy, not just in Dundee but across the world, has faced repeated and sustained challenges in the past three years. 

“But these figures marking the time since the Discover Work partnership was formed  give us reasons to be optimistic, not only because of the number of previously workless Dundonians who are now in work, training or education but also because of the amount of effort that is being put in by the council and its partners right now to continue that positive trend. 

“While we have brought about improvements in unemployment and inactivity, the Discover Work Partnership is primed to do more for the 11,000 or so people out of work in the city who are seeking or want to work. 

“That is why we have used the latest £1.5m commitment from the Scottish Government to enhance our partnership with the Third Sector who have formed the largest consortium of employability providers in Scotland. 

“This will simplify the offers available to adults, young people and households - including people with physical and mental health conditions, disabilities, experience of care, convictions or an offending history. 

“The council and third sector services help to create sustainable matches between employers and people looking for work and supporting them to develop the right skills to get a job.” 

Employability services in the city are directed and delivered by the Discover Work Partnership which includes the Department for Work and Pensions, Dundee City Council, Developing the Young Workforce, Dundee and Angus College, Fair Start Scotland (Remploy), Skills Development Scotland and more than a dozen representatives of the Third Sector. 

Councillors will be told on Monday (September 5) that as well as helping 992 people into positive destinations since the launch of Discover Work’s Employability Pathway programme, of those who gained employment 74% were still in a job after 12 months.

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