A national rail contractor has secured a number of work placements in Lanarkshire to help tackle unemployment in young people.
QTS Group signed up to the UK Government's Kickstart Scheme which aims to showcase the rail industry as a positive career pathway.
They were able to secure 20 part-time placements from the initiative, which covers employee wages for a 25-hour working week. However, the company has decided to make all of the placements full-time by covering the remaining costs.
Several of these posts will be available at QTS Group's Drumclog office, which is based on the A71 just outside Strathaven.
These include a vegetation management operative, a railway civils and geotechnical operative, two administration assistants and a procurement assistant.
A mix of operational and support roles have also been made available at the firm’s offices nationwide to help attract applicants from different backgrounds with varied skillsets and interests.
The Kickstart Scheme is designed for 16-24-year-olds who are currently on Universal Credit and at risk of long-term unemployment, with the aim of boosting their future job prospects.
The rail specialist’s application to the scheme is part of wider company plans to plug the skills and labour gap in the rail industry and encourage more young people to begin their career with QTS Group.
The firm is also hoping to retain staff that make a positive impact on the business during their six-months on the scheme, meaning permanent job opportunities will be made available in 2022.
Lorna Gibson, Training Director at QTS Group told Lanarkshire Live : “We submitted our application for the Kickstart Programme, with the help of NSAR, in the hope that we could recruit new and lasting talent, who will help to breathe new life into the industry with their enthusiasm and youthful energy.
"Through this scheme, we’ll be able to offer a thorough learning and development programme that truly delivers for its applicants.
“We’re also committed to delivering genuine social values in the area we operate in and believe job creation is a strong part of this.
"We’re confident the placements we offer over the next six months will help young people discover that the rail industry is an exciting and progressive industry with many fantastic career opportunities.”
Applications to join the QTS scheme remain open until December 17.
To be eligible to apply for a Kick Start job, you must be receiving Universal Credit. To apply for these jobs, please ask your Work Coach to make a referral for you.
**Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.
And did yo u know Lanarkshire Live is on Facebook? Head to our page and give us a like and share.
