The Big Business Breakfast

Click on the link below to watch highlights of the Big Business Breakfast.

The Big Business Breakfast was set up to celebrate the role of employers giving young people an introduction to the world of work.

http://www.vimeo.com/11232016

Work Experience Newsletter

West Lothian Council have published the spring edition of their Work Experience Newsletter. Click on the link below to read it.

http://www.westlothian.gov.uk/sitecontent/documentlist/educationpublications/workexpnewsletter12010

Latest unemployment and Jobcentre vacancy figures released

The latest unemployment and Jobcentre vacancy figures are out today for West Lothian (Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) based figures).

• The number of JSA jobless in West Lothian for March is 5,186. This is a decrease of 125 on the previous month.
• West Lothian's unemployment rate of 4.8% is higher than both the Scottish (4.5%) and Great Britain (4.2%) rates. West Lothian's unemployment rate ranks 9th highest.
• Youth unemployment (18-24 year olds) in West Lothian for January is 1,645. This is an increase of 35 on the last month.
• There were 793 notified Jobcentre vacancies in March - a net increase of 70 from February 2010.
• The ratio of jobseekers to jobcentre vacancies stands at 7 jobseekers for every vacancy advertised in West Lothian jobcentres. In comparison, Scotland's ratio is 6.7:1, Great Britain is 5.2:1 with North Ayrshire having the highest ratio of 19.9:1 (20 jobseekers for every vacancy) of claimants to vacancies of Scottish local authorities

Where can i find access2employment advisers?

West Lothian Council have published new times and venues for access2employment outreach advisors across West Lothian. For more information click on the link below.


http://www.westlothian.gov.uk/media/downloaddoc/jobs/outreach

BLES Training in the news

News story describes how BLES Training in Bathgate is helping young people into work

http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/features/Putting-the-pieces-back-together.6175557.jp

West Lothian Council have been helping local young people Get Ready for Work.

Council staff have been helping local young people prepare for the working world.

Chief executive Alex Linkston presented achievement awards recently to the first group of young people to have a completed the council's Get Ready for work programme.

The Get Ready for Work programme provides up to 26 weeks of work experience within a council department. The trainee, normally aged 16 or 17, has a staff member as workplace mentor to help support them in the workplace, so they gain the vocational skills required to be a competent and valuable employee.

Miriam Georgeson, Vocational Training Coordinator, said: ''As the largest employer in West Lothian, the council was keen to add Get Ready for Work to their existing training programmes for the young people.

''Given the current economic downturn, training and employment opportunities for young people are less available than they have been previously.

''Of the 12 young people who have completed the training programme so far, three have secured employment with the council and two have returned to education.

''This is a unique opportunity for the council to become part of the solution for these young people and help them in a very practical way to get on track to compete for jobs or more into training.''

Get Ready for Work trainee Thomas McNee spent six months with the Roads Department and has now secured employment.

He said: ''I am so much better prepared now to get a job than I was a few months ago.''

For more West Lothian Council Services wishing to know more contact Miriam Georgeson 01506 777946 or email miriam.georgeson@westlothian.gov.uk