Council backs training project for job seekers

Unemployed adults, who are eager to get back into employment,   today (Wednesday) began work on a training project to tidy up a prominent escarpment at the entrance to the city centre of Inverness at Eastgate.

A number of people have signed up with Apex Scotland  in the Highlands to volunteer for skills training projects which will help their local community and at the same time help their chances of gaining full time employment. 

Apex Scotland has attracted funding from the Inverness  Common Good Fund to purchase equipment for the volunteers which will be used for footpath improvement, fence maintenance, scrub clearance and litter picking at the Inverness Escarpment, between Victoria Drive and the path beside the Farm and Household store, Eastgate. 

The Highland Council TEC Services is also providing bags and skips for disposal of litter and vegetation. 

Provost Jimmy Gray, Chairman of The Highland Council’s Inverness City Committee, visited the site to welcome the volunteers. 

He said: “This is a very worthwhile project and part of a wider drive to improve the amenity of our city. We are pleased to have provided funding for the equipment, which will enable the volunteers to undertake this important work.  The escarpment is a prominent landmark at the eastern entrance to the city and the removal of overgrown vegetation, leaves and litter will greatly improve the amenity of this area. Our hope is that the experience will greatly benefit the volunteers and demonstrate to employers that they are ready for full time employment.” 

Apex Scotland is a specialist employability organisation that works with people of working age to give them the necessary skills to help them find and stay in work.

 Supervising the squad is David McNulty, Employment Development Advisor, Apex Scotland. He said: “We are grateful to the Council for supporting this training initiative.  Our volunteers have signed up with Apex Scotland because they want to get back into employment after a challenging experience in their life. Volunteering for this kind of work is good for their curriculum vitae as it demonstrates to employers their willingness to put the past behind them and put something meaningful back into their community.” 

Volunteers come with a variety of barriers to employment, which can include, offending, homelessness or substance misuse issues.  

Future projects are earmarked for Macdonald Park and Culduthel Park.