Tag: Recruitment

New wave of teachers needed to create ‘Generation Swim’

National campaign launched to combat swim teacher shortage

TEACHERS who are playing a vital role in creating ‘Generation Swim’ – a generation of safe and competent swimmers – are being celebrated across the country as part of a Scotland-wide recruitment drive.

The team behind the Learn to Swim National Framework has launched the recruitment campaign in Edinburgh, with at least 10% more teachers required to meet the swimming lesson demand in Scotland.

The Learn to Swim National Framework – a partnership between Scottish Swimming and Scottish Water which is delivered by 38 aquatic providers across Scotland in more than 160 pools – is shining a light on the inspiring teachers involved in teaching the next generation of youngsters to swim. There are over 76,000 children across the country currently taking part in weekly Learn to Swim lessons.

In 2022-23, over 740 candidates took part in 72 swim teacher training courses across Scotland and now the organisers are urging those looking to learn a new skill and become a swim teacher to attend courses in their local area.

Euan Lowe, CEO of Scottish Swimming, said: “Being a swimming teacher is an incredibly rewarding career, teaching an essential life skill to others and it’s important to be celebrate the individuals who make it all possible.

“Sadly, there is a real shortage at the moment in a role that is absolutely crucial in ensuring that young people in Scotland can be safe in the water.

“It takes three months to train a swimming teacher and equip them with the skills they need. There is huge opportunity in the sector for those looking for a rewarding job, whether it is a student looking for part time work or someone more senior looking for a career change, there is something out there for everyone.”

Organisers have launched the nationwide drive to recruit a new network of poolside teachers, promising huge job satisfaction as they help children of all ages and abilities to become more confident, safer and competent swimmers.

The National Learn to Swim Framework has already provided lessons to more than 100,000 youngsters, and aims to reach another 100,000 by 2025.

Duncan Scott, Learn to Swim, Forfar, Angusalive

Brian Lironi, Director of Corporate Affairs with Scottish Water said: “it’s great to see there is huge demand for Learn to Swim lessons across the country and the enthusiastic, dedicated teachers delivering these lessons play such an important role in encouraging and supporting children of all ages and abilities to learn and enjoy swimming in a safe way.

“Becoming a swim teacher is an amazing opportunity for people to make a difference and be part of creating a meaningful legacy for Scotland to help children be safe in and around water.”

The Learn to Swim Framework helps to create quality Learn to Swim environments for children from birth upwards where they learn the vital skills to become safe and competent swimmers, and also get to experience the wider health and social benefits that swimming can offer as they progress through the aquatic pathway.

Individuals will be put through the Scottish Swimming Teacher Qualification (SSTQ) which is the industry standard for those who wish to teach unsupervised to groups of swimmers with a range of abilities and is essential for seeking employment as a swimming teacher.

Scottish Swimming support National Framework partners to develop their teachers with regular continued professional development and access to resources to help with their lesson delivery.

Learn to Swim aims to build a real legacy for Scotland – creating “Generation Swim” by improving water safety, and giving all children a real platform for success to achieve their full potential both in the pool and out.

For more information on the teaching courses, visit https://scottishswimming.com/events/events-calendar/qualifications

For more information on the Learn to Swim programme, visit https://www.scottishswimming.com/learn-to-swim

Scottish Gas recruiting 350 jobs in it’s Edinburgh Call Centre 

  • New staff will be in post by the end of the year to help customers this winter
  • Scottish Gas has a £100 million support package available – the largest of any UK supplier – and staff will be given additional training on helping customers who are struggling with energy costs.  

Scottish Gas has announced it is growing its team of call centre operators in Edinburgh as it continues to provide even more help for customers this winter. 

The energy provider is recruiting 350 new roles at its Edinburgh energy contact centre which will see total staff numbers rise to more than 480. Additional training on assisting customers in the UK with financial difficulty will also be rolled out across the team as the winter heating season begins. 

The move is part of nationwide commitment to increase its existing customer service teams and hire more than 700 new call centre staff. These roles will all be in post by the end of the year with continued hiring taking place in January as part of the company’s aim to move all its call centre resource to the UK. 

Last winter, Scottish Gas experienced an increase in call volume due to the energy crisis and invested £25 million in its customer services operations to meet this demand. Whilst energy prices have come down, the company still expects customers to need support so is continuing to boost its UK teams. The increased staff numbers will also mean longer opening times for Scottish Gas customers of 8am to 6pm on weekdays and 9am to 2pm on Saturday. 

Scottish Gas has a £100 million support package in place to help customers who are struggling with energy costs – the largest voluntary support package offered by a UK supplier. Its customer services teams will receive additional training in how to help customers in financial difficultly including directing them to available support.   

Chris O’Shea, CEO of Centrica, parent company of Scottish Gas, said: “Although energy prices have come down slightly, many of our customers are still struggling overall with the cost of living and need to speak to us for longer about their energy bills.  

“Strengthening our call centre operations in Edinburgh will allow us to help more households across Scotland and the rest of the UK with expert advice and support during this time.

“I’m extremely proud of how our expert teams support our customers every day – in the past year they’ve helped over 1 million customers who’ve been struggling to afford their bills with additional support such as grants, debt relief and payment plans.” 

Online form for coastguard volunteers is launched

Applying to enrol as a volunteer with HM Coastguard is becoming quicker and easier. After successful trials throughout the UK, a new online volunteer enrolment form has been launched nationally by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).

With a tap or click of a mouse, applicants can access the form online to complete at home or on the go and submit on any internet-enabled device, including smartphones.

It’s the first MCA project to benefit from the government’s new digital form-builder, GOV.UK Forms, launched this year by the Government Digital Service, part of the Cabinet Office.

Coastguard rescue officers (CROs) undertake lifesaving search and rescue activities all around the UK coastline in diverse environments including mud, cliffs and water.

As members of coastguard rescue teams, they work closely with the other emergency services and volunteer organisations. As a volunteer role, attendance as a CRO is quite flexible. Full training and kit are provided.

Virginia McVea, Chief Executive of the MCA, said: “Coastguard rescue officers are the lifeblood of our service, ready 24/7 to go to the aid of people around the UK.

“Working with the Government Digital Service, we’ve put enrolment online to make it easier for people to apply for such a rewarding role and to maintain the strength of our response.

“Becoming a CRO means joining a close-knit team who enjoy camaraderie, personal development and the satisfaction of making a lifesaving difference.”

The digital enrolment form rolls out nationally tomorrow on 1 November 2023.

To apply to become a volunteer coastguard rescue officer, see the Volunteer as a coastguard information on GOV.UK.

To find out more about HM Coastguard, visit hmcoastguard.uk.

Scottish Fire and Rescue: Edinburgh Operations Control recruitment

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) is recruiting for the next generation of 999 call handlers at its Operations Control site in Edinburgh.  

The role of Firefighter Control is the first point of contact for members of the public who dial 999 to report an emergency. It’s a vital role in keeping Scotland’s communities safe and ensuring that emergency incidents are dealt with effectively and efficiently.  

Group Commander Marie Clare Coyle said: “Our Firefighter Control staff provide a vital service to Scotland’s communities. Our teams are trained to an extremely high standard to enable them to provide emergency help where required.  

“It is a varied and hugely rewarding career, we deal with a range of calls from house fires and road traffic collisions, to major incidents and severe weather-related flooding, keeping people calm in times of distress and concentrating resources where they’re most required. “

 
SFRS is recruiting for Firefighter Control staff to be based at its city-centre site in the Scottish capital, which is located adjacent to Tollcross Community Fire Station. 

Applicants for must be aged 18 or over, with the ability to work rotating shifts.  

Successful applicants will join fellow Operations Control staff upon completion of a 14-week training period – learning how to co-ordinate emergency fire and rescue response and give potentially life-saving advice. 

Group Commander Coyle, who has worked for the service for 24 years, added: “Our Edinburgh control room primarily provides a response to incidents in the East Service Delivery Area and, where required, can support our other control rooms in Johnstone and Dundee. 

“We are looking for people who are motivated, have a willingness to learn, a strong team ethic and the ability to form relationships to take up these roles on Scotland’s unseen frontline.  

“We are a team and we work collectively to respond to each, and every emergency call across Scotland.” 

Find out more about the role and apply at:

 www.firescotland.gov.uk/careers/firefighter-control/ or via My Job Scotland.

People in Edinburgh urged to apply to Suicide Prevention Panel

SAMH (Scottish Association for Mental Health) is inviting people from Edinburgh with lived experience of suicide to apply to take part in the Suicide Prevention Scotland Lived Experience Panel. 

The panel exists so that people with experience of suicide can help shape Scotland’s mission to prevent suicide. 

The Lived Experience Panel works alongside Suicide Prevention Scotland to influence and advise on its work to deliver the Scottish Government and COSLA’s suicide prevention strategy, Creating Hope Together.

Suicide Prevention Scotland is the community of people and organisations working together to deliver the strategy.  

The panel was initially formed in 2019 to support the delivery of the previous strategy.

It played a vital role in the development of guidance to support local authorities, learning & development resources, the launch of the United to Prevent Suicide campaign movement, pilot projects to support families bereaved by suicide, and shaping an approach to supporting people in suicidal crisis, Time Space Compassion.

This model has been so successful that it has been recognised by the World Health Organisation as a significant international example of participation of people with lived experience in suicide prevention work.

Those who have previously attempted suicide, experienced suicidal thoughts, or have lost a loved one to suicide are encouraged to apply to be on the panel.

The Scottish Government provides funding to SAMH to host the lived experience panel, providing support to the group’s members so that they can contribute fully and safely help influence suicide prevention strategy.

Seonaid Stallan, is a current member of the Lived Experience Panel. She lost her son Dylan to suicide; three weeks later her sister-in-law Vanessa took her own life.

She said: “After losing my son and sister-in-law to suicide, I knew there were things which needed to change to prevent this happening to others. 

“Being a member of the Lived Experience Panel has given me the opportunity to share my personal lived experience, insight and knowledge of suicide. 

My experience is valued, and I have been able to use my voice to help influence and shape a variety of actions and services in suicide prevention. 

“I am pleased to say that Scotland now has a pilot service which supports families bereaved by suicide, families like mine. This will save lives.”

Dan Farthing, Head of Suicide Prevention at SAMH said: “This is a unique opportunity for people in Edinburgh to play a significant part in Scotland’s mission to prevent suicide.

“SAMH is proud to have worked collaboratively to establish and develop the Lived Experience Panel and to continue to host it for Suicide Prevention Scotland.

“Working with panel members we’ve created a safe space for open conversation, and constructive challenge. Those who join the panel will be able to genuinely shape what Scotland’s approach to suicide prevention looks like in the future.

“Support and safeguarding are always at the forefront of everything we do, and so those who are interested in contributing this way should know that their wellbeing is our top priority.”

Haylis Smith, National Delivery, Suicide Prevention Scotland said: “Over the last four years the Lived Experience Panel has become a vital part of the three-way approach to the development of suicide prevention policy and practice alongside public health professionals and our academic advisors. 

“Members understandably want to do all they can to prevent suicide, but it is the quality of their contributions that have made such a difference. 

“The idea of a lived experience panel was very new when this one was set up, and some people were probably quite nervous about taking this approach. 

“However, we’ve seen so many meaningful contributions that have helped shape our approach, and in some cases bring about change that may not have happened. 

“We’d warmly encourage anyone who has experience of suicide in Edinburgh, who feels they are ready to contribute to this work to put themselves forward.” 

To find out more about the role and to apply, visit: https://www.samh.org.uk/about-mental-health/suicide/suicide-prevention-scotland-lived-experience-panel 

Edinburgh Leisure seeks new Chief Executive

Edinburgh Leisure, the largest provider of sport and leisure facilities across the city, has begun the search for a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), following the announcement of the retirement of their current CEO, June Peebles (who was part of the original team that helped establish Edinburgh Leisure in 1998).

June led the organisation through the unprecedented period of the COVID-19 pandemic, the various lockdowns and venue closures, leading with unflappability and transparency.

Although venues were closed, some projects were fast-tracked including staffing reviews, and building projects continued where possible, including retiling the Royal Commonwealth diving pool, upgrading the front façade at Portobello Swim Centre and the refurbishment of Warrender Swim Centre (one of Edinburgh Leisure’s five much-loved Victorian pools). 

June Peebles, Edinburgh Leisure’s current CEO said: “I reached the conclusion that, for me, there is no ‘right’ time to leave Edinburgh Leisure.

“I love my work, irrespective of how challenging or less challenging things are, and hardly a day goes by when I don’t experience a proud moment, whether that’s because of the performance of a colleague or from seeing and/ or hearing about the impact of our work on people’s lives. I feel very fortunate to work in an industry and for an organisation I feel passionate about. But there comes a time…and after 38 years, now feels like the right time to retire.

“I leave whoever picks up the baton with an organisation that is mature and certain of its purpose, the value it brings to the city of Edinburgh and, importantly, with the ambition to do more.  This is a great opportunity for someone to put their own stamp on how Edinburgh Leisure continues to thrive.

June Pebbles Chief Executive Edinburgh Leisure

June continues:  “A charity with one clear purpose – to make a positive difference by creating opportunities for everyone to get active, stay active and achieve more, the new CEO will be required to ensure that Edinburgh Leisure continues to deliver on its purpose in a sustainable way.

“Leading an experienced, enthusiastic and committed team – all of whom are focused on making a positive difference through physical activity, working effectively with our  many partners (especially the elected members and officials at the City of Edinburgh Council), and providing all our customers with a great experience.”

Eden Scott is handling the recruitment and interested applicants should contact Sarah Gracie, Associate Director on 07999 421 314

Core-Asset recognised as one of the top 200 women-powered businesses

Female-led Scottish scale-up crowned one of the UK’s best

SCOTLAND’S leading financial services recruiter has been identified by JP Morgan Private Bank as one of the top 200 women-powered businesses in the UK. 

Founded by respected entrepreneur Betsy Williamson in 2005, Core-Asset Consulting receives the accolade shortly after being named a leading trailblazer at the end of 2022.  

The firm – which now turns over £26.5m a year – places a strong focus on diversity, equity, inclusion and progressive working practices for both men and women. 

Louise Powrie, co-Managing Director of Core-Asset Consulting, said: “This year’s standings perfectly reflect our continually growing upward trajectory which has seen us truly excel as a business.

“We place inclusion at the heart of what we do and have recently launched a new initiative to help improve socio-economic diversity in the sector – this accolade from JP Morgan highlights that we are more than meeting these goals.

“As an Edinburgh-based business that has grown from a start-up into Scotland’s leading financial services recruiter, the report – which celebrates women-powered businesses – should serve as a driver for all companies across the country which are fuelling female ambition and advancing financial equality. 

“We are delighted to be a part of underlining the incredibly diverse role that women play in impacting and shaping British businesses and the economy.

“Each and every one of the top 200 businesses deserve their recognition – it’s fantastic high-growth businesses like these that will fuel our future.”

Core-Asset was born out of Betsy’s desire to take the best of her experience of large corporate recruiters, applying the focus on infrastructure and training to a more sector-specialised business.

It ranked 38 out of 200 in the third instalment of the annual JP Morgan report. It analysed over 46,000 companies that together form the UK’s high-growth ecosystem, revealing 13,255 women-powered businesses founded, led, owned, or managed by women.

Charlotte Bobroff and Stephanie Khalef-Wassmer, Co-heads of UK Women & Wealth and Executive Directors at J.P. Morgan Private Bank said: “Investing in the advancement of women is a focus of our firm that we believe is critical. 

“Over the years, we have developed and launched a range of resources, networks and tools that enable women to progress in their career journeys as despite their impressive performance, women-powered companies still face the challenge of being underrepresented compared to their male counterparts.”

Core-Asset Consulting is Scotland’s pre-eminent recruitment and headhunting agency dedicated to financial and professional services. 

Based in Edinburgh, the firm employs 24 people and works across the entire financial services sector, from the smallest boutiques to the biggest global players.

Initially the firm carved its reputation in Scotland’s globally-renowned asset management sector. However, the success of its model allowed it to expand across the wider financial services market. It now boasts dedicated accounting, investment operations and finance teams and also works in Scotland’s thriving legal sector.

Aldi recruiting in Edinburgh

Aldi is currently looking to recruit over 20 new store colleagues across Edinburgh.  

In a welcome boost to the local economy, the UK’s fourth largest supermarket is looking for people of all levels of experience to fill roles at its stores across the region including Hermiston Gate, Gilmerton Road, Oxgangs, Commercial Street, and Portobello.  

This includes both full-time and part-time positions including Store Management Apprentice, Stock Assistant, and Store Assistant, all the way up to Deputy Managers.  

The recruitment push forms part of Aldi’s nationwide expansion drive, with the supermarket set to open an average of one new store a week across the UK between now and Christmas. 

Kelly Stokes, Recruitment Director at Aldi UK, said: “As we continue to invest in new stores, we’re looking for more colleagues to join our incredible teams across Edinburgh.   

“Working at Aldi means a great working environment and real opportunities to progress within the business and we look forward to welcoming even more people to be a part of our success in the future.” 

Starting pay for Store Assistants at Aldi is £11.40 per hour with the supermarket also paying for breaks.  

Those interested in applying for jobs can visit www.aldirecruitment.co.uk.   

Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society launches emerging critics programme 

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society has announced the launch of the inaugural Edinburgh Festival Fringe emerging critic’s programme.  

Reviews are a critical tool for Fringe artists, for both raising their profile and encouraging audiences to seek out their work. Over the last few years, the level of arts coverage delivered by media titles across the UK has reduced dramatically compared to pre-pandemic. The Fringe Society’s new pilot project aims to promote arts journalism as an attractive and viable career choice for emerging talent. 

Through the 2023 emerging critics programme, the Fringe Society will recruit up to seven emerging writers who will be supported through a learning programme, culminating in attending the festival in August to review shows and see their work published. The titles supporting this pilot include Broadway Baby, Chortle, the Herald, the List, Neurodiverse Review, the Scotsman and the Wee Review. 

Following an open recruitment process, successful applicants will be placed with one of these titles.  Each emerging critic will meet with a media mentor before spending a week at the Fringe, where they will be officially accredited as 2023 media, watch performances and file reviews with their title. 

Lyndsey Jackson, Deputy Chief Executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said: ‘We’re excited to launch this new project, which is an important step in encouraging young writers to consider culture and the arts as a future career.

“For many artists, a great Fringe review can make their show, and the importance and impact of reviews during August cannot be underestimated for the sector overall. We hope this year’s pilot creates a catalyst for future critics to come and develop their craft here at one of the greatest festivals on earth.  

‘We’d like to thank the media titles supporting us in delivering this project over the summer. Their passion and commitment to covering the Fringe every year is testament to the power that this amazing festival has and I’m delighted to see them actively engaged in supporting the next generation of talent.’ 

Comments from participating titles:  

‘A core part of The List’s ethos is to continually search for the next generation of arts writers, and the Fringe’s emerging critics programme feeds perfectly into this’. Brian Donaldson, The List 

‘At The Wee Review, we’re delighted to have had two winners of the Fringe’s Young Writer Awards and proud to have given many more their first step on the ladder. In fact, lots of our year-round team originally joined us for the Fringe. It’s a tough but hugely exciting atmosphere to be reviewing in and we look forward to meeting and supporting some new critics as they find that out for themselves!’ Robert Peacock, Wee Review 

‘We are very excited to be supporting a disabled critic who will be able to bring a much-needed perspective to work at the Edinburgh Fringe’. Simon Jay, Neurodiverse Review 

‘Comedy’s an incredible art form and we’re delighted to be part of this project to widen the pool of informed critics who can give it the considered analysis it deserves at the Fringe, the world’s most extraordinary gathering of comic talent’. Steve Bennett, Chortle 

Applications are open now, and will close on Wednesday 28 June, with interviews scheduled for w/c 03 July 2023. 

https://fs7.formsite.com/Edfringe/hid2cbloel/index

Recruitment campaign to boost childminding workforce in Edinburgh City extended

A campaign to recruit new childminders in targeted urban and rural areas to help establish more childminding places for families has been extended, providing more time for people living in Edinburgh City to tap into funding and support available to get started in a new career.

Led by the Scottish Childminding Association, and funded by Scottish Government and participating local authorities including Edinburgh City Council, the ‘Scottish Childminding Partnership’ aims to increase the number of childminding businesses in areas where there are currently not enough childminders to meet the level of demand from families seeking local, high-quality, nurturing and flexible childcare.

A fantastic package of fully funded support and training available to successful applicants, providing everything needed to establish a new childminding business.

The campaign has seen almost 60 new childminders complete or apply for registration with the Care Inspectorate to establish new childminding businesses throughout Scotland but more are needed throughout target areas, including Edinburgh City, to help address the need for more high-quality childcare for families.

Skye Jolly has started her own childminding business in Moray after accessing support and funding available through the recruitment campaign and is delighted with her new career.

“When I first decided to become a childminder I didn’t have a clue where to start so I did some research online and quickly found this new childminder recruitment campaign.

“I think this is a brilliant way for anyone thinking about becoming a childminder to get started because you’re very supported every step of the way. I’m so glad I decided to take the leap, I really love my new career!”

No previous childcare experience is required to become a childminder but applicants do need to be passionate about working with children. It’s an extremely rewarding career option – contributing to children’s development, learning and wellbeing and providing a valuable childcare service within the local community.

Often, people who are looking to get back into work, or who want to switch career into professional childminding, do so to enable them to combine caring for their own children whilst running their own business from home and earning an income.

Those who apply and are accepted on to the pilot will be supported every step of the way by a dedicated member of the SCMA team, from induction training and support through the registration process to establishing their new business.

On completion of registration, new childminders have access to a start-up grant so that they can be reimbursed for some of the initial costs associated with setting up their new business from home*. They will also receive a unique package of childminding-specific training courses.

Graeme McAlister, Chief Executive, Scottish Childminding Association, said: “Whether in rural areas, towns or cities, this form of high-quality childcare is a vital asset to families and the recruitment of more childminders is another important step towards addressing the urgent demand for high-quality childcare from parents and carers.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for people who may be considering getting back into work, or looking for a change of career which supports a better work / life balance, to access a wealth of support in setting up their own sustainable childminding business and to begin a new, rewarding career working with children.”

More information and how to get started by visiting :

www.childminding.org/childminder-recruitment

  • *£750 minimum business start-up. The value of start-up grant may vary across local authority areas
  • SCMA is a national charity and is the only organisation dedicated to supporting all aspects of childminding in Scotland. We provide a wide range of support and professional services including training and events as well as delivering local services for childminders, children and families.
  • More childminders are needed across the whole of Scotland. This unique pilot is helping to address the specific and urgent need for childcare in particularly remote and rural areas as well as specific urban areas.
  • Childminding settings provide low child-adult ratios. This means a childminder can provide tailored one-to-one care for each child.  Evidence has shown this form of childcare can enhance a child’s early learning, confidence and their social development and is particularly helpful in supporting children with additional support needs, or for children who may struggle in a larger childcare setting such as nursery.