Employability team seeks placements across all Council services
Colleagues in the Employability team are helping to improve life for families across North Ayrshire through a programme that support parents.
The Skills For Life initiative helps parents who have been out of work and are looking to get back into the workplace. It provides a temporary 26-week mentored position within the Council and participants are offered pre-employment advice, in-work support and support to find positions that work well with their family life.
The team would like to offer more opportunities and placements across all Council departments to parents living in our communities.
Laura Neill, Senior Manager for Employability and Skills within Economic Development and Regeneration, explained: “We are committed to reducing child poverty rates in North Ayrshire by supporting parents to gain work experience through our Skills for Life programme.
“This initiative is designed to actively engage and empower parents to achieve sustainable employment, thereby significantly increasing household income.
“Over the past seven years, the Council’s Parental Employment Team has successfully supported more than 300 residents through Skills for Life, offering work experiences and qualifications directly tied to local job opportunities.
“Working together, we are dedicated to continuing our innovative and collaborative approach to delivering opportunities that will ensure a brighter future for families in North Ayrshire.
“We would really like to hear from colleagues in departments that are able to offer work placements to parents. Feedback from managers who have offered placements over the year has included that the person was a great addition to their team, they brought fresh ideas and filled an important role.
“And parents really appreciate the flexibility of things like being able to start work later in the morning and finish later in the evening, so they can drop off and pick up children from school.”
Through the programme, parents are given guidance as they explore new opportunities that will improve their financial situation and make life better for themselves and their families.
Last year, 75 per cent of all parents who took part moved into further work after their placement.
A total of 35 placements were offered in Council services as part of the programme and 27 parents were retained within the Council in roles including Facilities, Streetscene and Classroom Assistants.
In the private sector, positions were offered in the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Taylor & Henderson solicitors and estate agents in Saltcoats, Morrisons, Beith Community Development Trust and Irvine Sports Club.
The Employability team is keen to provide Skills For Life opportunities for parents in as many Council services as possible. If your team or department can potentially offer a placement and you would like to find out more, please email employability@north-ayrshire.gov.uk for more information.
Former Skills For Life participant Toni Pirie (pictured) is currently working in the Council as an Assistant Financial Intervention Officer – and she says the programme made a huge difference to her life.
She completed an HNC in Admin and IT not long before becoming pregnant with her daughter and explained:
“I really struggled with childcare and lost my job at the time due to this. I was struggling financially and attending lots of interviews with no success. I was giving up hope when I was told about the Skills for Life Programme.
“Without the programme I don’t think I would be where I am now. It gave me the opportunity to get a placement within North Ayrshire Council which has allowed me to develop my skills further over the years.”
Toni completed her six-month placement at Irvine Townhouse and Greenwood Conference Centre, in Dreghorn, doing reception and admin duties while also attending college one day a week.
Over the past seven years, she has worked in a variety of Council roles and says the flexible working arrangements have been priceless to her as a parent as she managed her work and home life.
Find out how Your Next Move, Working North Ayrshire can help you – or someone you know – with things like CVs, application forms, Modern Apprenticeships, paid work experience, interview techniques and secure employment on the dedicated Council webpage.
Follow the team on Facebook at @WorkingNorthAyrshire
Skills for Life Programme highlights
Our 2024/25 programme created 81 Skills for Life placements with the following Council services and partner organisations: Streetscene; Facilities; Clerical in various departments; Pupil Support Assistants; Third Sector; Step Into Sustainable Business; Care At Home and the stores through the Health and Social Care Partnership. 51 placements are across council services.
The Council’s employability service’s Your Next Move, Working North Ayrshire programme manages Skills For Life.
The Employability team is keen to provide Skills For Life opportunities for parents in as many Council services as possible.
If your team or department can potentially offer a placement and you would like to find out more, please email employability@north-ayrshire.gov.uk for more information.
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 before March 31st.
“I would 100 per cent recommend Skills For Life – and have done many times – as I believe it is a great course for parents and it has really helped me gain a better future for myself and daughter. I am now in a promoted post within a team, and I am really happy. I hope, over the years, I can develop further, and more parents are given the same fantastic opportunity that I was within the Council. Without the programme I don’t think I would be where I am now. It gave me the opportunity to get a placement within North Ayrshire Council which has allowed me to develop my skills further over the years.”Toni Pirie, Assistant Financial Intervention Officer