Falkirk Council is

Working in Partnership to
Support Employment and Skills
AN

E FOR A'

YOUR
FUTURE
CAREER
STARTS
HERE
Do you want to kick-start your
career with a combination of quality
work experience and nationally
recognised training? Falkirk Council
is looking to build on our current
successful Training Programmes by
recruiting enthusiastic people for a
variety of occupational areas.
To apply you must be:
A resident of the Falkirk
Council area
Currently unemployed
Aged 16 - 24 years (some older
clients may be eligible to take
part, if referred through
JobCentre Plus)
Not currently participating on
the Work Programme
Falkirk Council will be recruiting
throughout the winter period and
currently have career opportunities
in the following:
Health and Social Care
Business Administration and
Customer Services
Hospitality and Catering
Facilities Management (includes
Concierge Caretaking and
Janitorial)
Retail Warehousing
Recycling and Waste
Management
Roads & Highways Maintenance
General Construction
Land-Based Activities - Ground
Maintenance, Landscaping and
Horticulture
As part of your training programme
you will receive a training allowance
and gain a nationally recognised
qualification with opportunities to
progress to modern apprenticeships.

Richard and Scott - Take

first steps into childcare
Excellent people skills, selfmotivation and being a good
listener are all important abilities
needed to start training for a job
in early learning and childcare.
Richard Dacey and Scott Paterson
are hopeful that they have all
the skills to make the grade,
particularly as they are the first
males in the Falkirk area to be
accepted
for
a
Modern
Apprenticeship (MA) in Childcare.
The 18 year olds are among
the latest group of successful
candidates from the many young

people who apply to Falkirk

Council annually in the hope of
training to become an Early Years
Officer.
Starting their careers in a
mainly
female
orientated
industry doesnt bother Richard
or Scott, who have both entered
their apprenticeships after
gaining some experience when
they were at school.
In recent years, Richard, who
works at Queen Street Nursery in
Falkirk
as
part
of
his
apprenticeship, has been helping

Scottish
Fine Soaps
Company
As one of the few soap
manufacturers left in the UK,
Scottish Fine Soaps Company saw
an apprentice as a solution to help
safeguard its future.
Maintaining the unique skills
needed to manufacture its bath
and body products has been a
priority for the business as it
manages its growth and the
Employment and Training Unit
(ETU) was able to help the senior
management team identify young
talent to learn the ropes.
Billy Wilson, a Director at
Scottish Fine Soaps Company, said:
We have very specific machinery
so, to plan for the future, we felt it
was vital that our current engineer
was able to pass on his skills. An
apprentice was the right fit, as we
could mould them in their first job
and give them the opportunity to
build a career by gaining lifelong
skills.

out at the Boys Brigade, which

hes been a member of since he
was four years old, as well as
supporting the Primary One class
at Stenhousemuir Primary for the
last couple of years as part of his
schools work experience scheme.
Scott, who is serving his
apprenticeship at Rannoch
Nursery in Grangemouth, also
gained experience working at a
school, Comely Park Primary,
during his sixth year studies, as
well as working at the childrens
play area at Callendar Park.
According to both head
teachers at Queen Street and
Rannoch nurseries, being a male
working in childcare can bring its
own special qualities to the job.
Headteacher at Queen Street
Nursery, Avril Robertson, said: It
is great to see more men wanting
to work with young children. It is
a job which requires many skills.
Rannoch Headteacher, Sandra
Brown added: Whether you are
male or female, you need to be
observant and have a caring
attitude and an interest in helping
children to suit the job.
The MA in Social Services and
Young People can last up to two
and a half years, depending on
the progress of each apprentice.
During that time participants like
Scott and Richard are earning a
wage whilst learning skills on the
job across two placements as well
as spending one day a week at
Falkirk Councils Education Centre
for studies to help them gain
their accreditation.
Scott and Richard both love

Whether you
are male or
female, you
need to be
observant and
have a caring
attitude and
an interest in
helping
children to
suit the job.
Avril Robertson,
Queen Street Nursery
the apprenticeship programme,
which allows them to look after
children aged up to five years old.
Its a lot of hands on work, but
thats how I can really learn, said
Scott. He continues: If I need
help I speak to my mentor and
internal tutor, Kate in the
Education Centre, or another
member of the team. Theres
always help at hand.
Both lads are enjoying working
with the children and believe its
giving them a lot of job
satisfaction. Richard said: The
training is a great opportunity in
an enjoyable career. Youre not
only doing it for yourself, but
youre helping the younger
generation to learn and develop.

An apprentice was the right fit, as

we could mould them in their first
job and give them the opportunity
to build a career by gaining
lifelong skills.
Billy Wilson, Director, Scottish Fine Soaps Company

Falkirk ETU simplified the

recruitment process by finding
suitable candidates who had
completed its Engineering preapprenticeship
programme
delivered on behalf of the Council
by MetTECH and West Lothian
College. Scottish Fine Soaps
Company management team were
impressed with 19 year old Callum
McPhee and also that the ETU
could provide funding to cover the
cost of Callums three year college

course as well as 50% financial

contribution towards his first years
wages through the employer
recruitment incentive.
Now a full-time employee,
Callum is making a worthwhile
contribution to the workforce as
he completes his Modern
Apprenticeship in Engineering.
Billy Wilson added: We felt
we were given a lot of control in
the recruitment process and the

ETU has made the whole process a

smooth experience. Callum
continues to be on day release at
college and is mentored by the
team at ETU.
The time invested to find and
support Callum is definitely
worthwhile. He has settled very
well into the workforce and were
committed to making his
apprenticeship here a positive
experience.

To express your interest in our range of

opportunities please register at
www.falkirk.gov.uk/falkirkconnected
or call 01324 504400