· Fort Kinnaird Recruitment & Skills Centre is hosting a free one-week Retail and Customer Service course for 16- to 24-year-olds, starting on Monday 11th March.
· The course will help participants develop the skills needed for a successful career in retail, as well as giving them the chance to speak directly with Fort Kinnaird employers about current vacancies and opportunities.
· Everyone who completes the course will also receive the Customer Service: Principles and Practices Award at SCQF level 5.
· For more information or to register, individuals should contact the team at enquiries@rscfortkinnaird.co.uk or call 07934485859.
Kenny Hall, Integrated Employer Engagement Manager at Fort Kinnaird Recruitment & Skills Centre, said: “Our Retail and Customer Service course aims to support young people in the local community into roles within the fast-paced, exciting industry that is customer service.
“Not only does the course offer the opportunity to learn new skills and grow in confidence, but those who complete it will take home a formal qualification to set them apart when applying for future roles.”
Liam Smith, Centre Director at Fort Kinnaird, said:“Courses like this one at our Recruitment & Skills Centre are so valuable in helping individuals to grow in confidence and capability.
“It’s also a great opportunity for young people to build their network and meet with retailers from across the centre, so I’d encourage anyone in the local area looking for a new opportunity to get involved and kickstart their next adventure!”
The Springboard programme is for young adults aged 16-25 who are currently either at risk of homelessness or accessing homelessness services across Edinburgh.
Participants will be able to gain qualifications in Emergency First Aid at Work as well as Elementary Food Hygiene.
We will support the group with employability skills such as CV writing, Job Interview Skills and Job Applications. We also run workshops focused on mental health and wellbeing as well as weekly social outings to encourage participants to form lasting friendships.
The programme also includes a 3-day Residential trip with the Scottish Outdoor Education Centre to allow the participants to try their hand at some adventurous outdoor activities like rock climbing, abseiling, archery and much more!
Bus fare can be covered by Four Square and lunch will be provided on each day of the course.
Health Issues in the Community (HIIC) is a course that helps people understand what affects their health & the health of their communities. HIIC supports people to develop the skills & knowledge to address health issues using community development approaches & bring about change.
Through a small grant from Edinburgh PACT’s Capacity to Collaborate fund we (Edinburgh Community Food, Inspiring Leith, YMCA and Port of Leith) will be running a HIIC course in Leith early next year – more details coming soon!
Before that we want to give workers, who might not be familiar with the course, the chance to find out more about it and what it might be like for people who want to participate in the full course.
We’ve also got a small amount of funds to support local workers attend the full HIIC training for trainers if these sessions inspire you!
The next 2 sessions will take place from 12 – 1.30 on the 14th and 21st of September at the Hibs Foundation Community Space, North Stand Entrance of Easter Road Stadium.
Edinburgh health and wellbeing charity, Thistle, has launched a pilot ten-week training course for those looking to start or return to work in social care at a time when many are questioning their career choice as we recover from the pandemic.
The Thistle Academy is a first in Scotland and has been launched in response to the growing need for long-term social care support and will provide vital training and guidance for those looking for a career in social care.
Successful applicants will benefit from an intensive training course, as well as a £500 welcome payment and full pay from day one.
Thistle, which employs just under 500 people and supports over a hundred people with disabilities or long term health conditions to live independently across Edinburgh, the Lothians and Fife, has seen a significant demand for services throughout the pandemic. Many of its employees have come from different sectors looking to move into a role supporting others.
A national Aviva survey* found that three in five UK workers wanted to make changes to their careers because of the pandemic, with those aged between 25 and 34 most likely to want to retrain or pursue a completely different career.
The launch comes as part of the charity’s ongoing recruitment drive and commitment to employee training and development. The in-depth, people-focused course will allow successful applicants to fully develop their confidence before embarking on their social care career.
Heather Simmons, Thistle Academy Lead, said:“We want to ensure the highest standard of support is available for people living with disabilities and long-term health conditions, which is why we are so pleased to be launching our Thistle Academy for the first time and to be helping those looking to take an important next step in their career.
“Our trainees will work alongside a supportive cohort of like-minded people who have a passion to make a difference to the lives of others, encouraging those with disabilities or long-term health conditions to live life to the fullest.”
Mark Hoolahan, Chief Executive of Thistle, commented:“The social care industry is full of highly skilled people who draw on their own experience and natural empathy with others to deliver the best support possible.
“I hope the programme will help attract people who might be looking to make a significant career change and give them the support and confidence they need to progress.
“The last two years have demonstrated the vital role of social care in so many people’s lives. The Thistle Academy is our way of showing how much we value our employees and believe in the real difference they can make.
“I hope we will be able to offer further courses later in the year and that the academy will become a permanent part of our recruitment process going forward.”
Applicants should send in a personal statement and a ‘best selfie’ that demonstrates their values, strengths, interests, and why they would be the best fit for the academy. The closing date for applications is Friday 8 April and the course starts on Monday 25th April.
Finalists will go through to the recruitment day at the Thistle site in Craigmillar, giving them the chance to meet and chat to those supported by the charity, as well as the chance to talk to existing employees.
Case study – Tracey and Emma’s story
Tracey is a mum, runs her own travel consultancy business, and lives some distance away from Emma, who she supports on a one-to-one basis.
Tracey works part-time supporting Emma, including sleepovers in case Emma needs support during the night, which fits well into Tracey’s routine.
Tracey acknowledges being a mum to three boys as being good preparation for her role at Thistle. She said: “You’re always having to listen, think ahead, adapt plans and deal with the unexpected. That gave me confidence.
“I still work as a travel agent and learned from my Thistle experience. One specialism I have added is that I now can offer accessible holidays for people with disabilities.
“The most rewarding aspect of my role at Thistle is helping Emma live the life that she wants. We really do have lots of fun and laughs together.”
Case study – Garry’s story
For more than 30 years, Garry was an engineer and enjoyed the variety he found in this role. He started in Naval defence, working on the design of ships and travelled regularly for work, and then moved to the oil and gas sector where he was able to work locally in Fife.
Garry had begun to feel the motivation he once had for his job disappear, and when the pandemic hit and the option for voluntary redundancy came about, he took it, and started to reflect on what he wanted his working legacy to be.
Garry’s personal experience led him to consider support work as the next step in his career. After losing his aunty, his uncle moved into sheltered housing, and Garry became aware of how isolated his uncle was during the pandemic and the many challenges he was faced. Garry soon realised that there were many people like his uncle in the same situation and started looking for job adverts in social care.
Garry said: “The number of jobs advertised for social work made me realise how much of a need there is, but I felt my chance of getting my foot in the door, given my background, was slim.
“Christine, a coach at Thistle, was great, explaining that Thistle would provide training and that the right person was more important than previous experience.”
Garry has now been working with Thistle for nearly a year and works closely with a visually impaired man to help him make the most out of life, taking him on day trips all over Scotland and supporting his passion for music.
Garry continued:“Since I’ve started working at Thistle, I’ve realised the amount of people from every walk of life who need support.
“It’s an important role, and it’s rewarding knowing you are making a difference.”
Thirteen ‘emerging leaders’ from the Scottish Parliamentary Service (SPS) staff were recognised yesterday at a certification event hosted by the Presiding Officer.
The staff were the first group to attend a new course created by Edinburgh College and the Scottish Association of Minority Ethnic Educators (SAMEE). The course supports minority ethnic employees in achieving their full potential now and in the future.
The scheme also aims to ensure the Parliamentary Service more closely reflects Scotland’s population by developing existing minority ethnic talent within the organisation.
While the 2021 election saw a more diverse group of MSPs elected, diversity monitoring within the Parliament as an employer found an ethnicity pay gap caused by a lack of minority ethnic staff in more senior positions.
Speaking after the certification event, Presiding Officer, Alison Johnstone MSP said:“Diversity matters, and I am proud to recognise the achievements of our first intake of colleagues participating in this innovative and progressive scheme.
“I am very pleased to encourage them as they advance their careers at the heart of Scottish public life.”
Volunteer Edinburgh are pleased to announce that we have a new run of our popular Core Skills in Volunteer Management course available now that is being delivered over February and March.
This remote learning course will take place over four weeks. It consists of two blocks which can be booked independently:
CSVM 1: Involvement and Recruitment (from 7 February until 18 February)
CSVM 2: Support, Supervision and Training (from 28 February until 11 March)
Each block has several activities including self-study (reading) and forum discussions all of which can be done at your own pace on the Volunteer Edinburgh Academy.
There is also a weekly 1.5 hour, facilitated Zoom session each week to enable you to connect with other learners, reflect on your practice and learning, and share discussions.
