An innovative new partnership between Renfrewshire Council and one of its contractors, Land Engineering (Scotland) Ltd., has provided three unemployed men the opportunity to learn new new skills and get a job.

Kyle Mills from Inchinnan, William Fulton from Ferguslie, and Robert MacMillan from Renfrew have been employed since February in Land Engineering’s construction team. The firm is currently carrying out a £1m improvement programme in Paisley's Causeyside area as part of the Paisley Township Heritage Initiative.

All three were unemployed before being taken on to work on the project which is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and Renfrewshire Council.

Councillor Roy Glen, Convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Economy and Jobs Policy Board, said: "It’s great that council projects are helping to create jobs and opportunities for local people.

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"Tackling unemployment in the area, particularly among young people, is one of the council’s top priorities.

"Projects like this are complementing our Invest in Renfrewshire programme which has been successful in getting our local businesses to take on young people from the local area and provide them with work experience to help them find jobs."

Councillor Terry Kelly, Convener of the Council’s Planning and Property Policy Board, added: "I am really pleased that regeneration projects like this which are helping to make Renfrewshire’s towns more attractive places to live in, work in and visit, are also providing training and experience for young people that will help them into work."

The Causeyside project has also provided a career opportunity for Reid Kerr College student, Darren Ligget who has been working on a six-week work placement as part of his NCLP Intermediate course in construction.

He impressed his supervisors at Land Engineering during his placement that he has now been offered him a full-time job at the end of his course.

The Causeyside project, which is due for completion in August, will bring wider pavements, landscaping, new trees in Johnston Street and improved parking and loading bays for residents, shoppers and businesses.

(JP/CD)