Scotland’s leading contact centre company HEROtsc, an established employer within Kilmarnock, is expanding their Scottish operations. HEROtsc employs over 300 people locally and the new jobs will bolster an already thriving business.

Councillor Douglas Reid, Leader . . . → Read More: 100 NEW JOBS FOR KILMARNOCK!]]> 100 new jobs for Kilmarnock – that was the fantastic news announced by First Minister, Alex Salmond yesterday.

Scotland’s leading contact centre company HEROtsc, an established employer within Kilmarnock, is expanding their Scottish operations. HEROtsc employs over 300 people locally and the new jobs will bolster an already thriving business.

Councillor Douglas Reid, Leader of the Council, who visited the delighted workforce this morning said: “This announcement is brilliant news for Kilmarnock and indeed East Ayrshire as a whole. I am really delighted that HEROtsc has chosen to expand their call centre within the town. The Council has provided training support to HEROtsc in the past and we are in ongoing discussions with the company in relation to providing any additional support they may require.

“We have a workforce with the right skills; and they are ready to work very hard to help this successful company grow even stronger.”

Councillor Jim Buchanan, Spokesperson for Delivering Community Regeneration said: “100 new jobs for Kilmarnock is a headline that puts a smile on my face. This is great news! As a Council we are working incredibly hard with all our partners to bring investment to the area. The new jobs were made possible thanks to Regional Selective Assistance Grants which were awarded by Scottish Enterprise. We are delighted with this investment but I can assure you that we will continue to work extremely hard with the Scottish Government and all our partners to attract other large companies to our area.”

Derek Anderson, Director Customer Experience, HEROtsc said: “We are delighted with this expansion which is due to the dedicated work of our employees and their commitment to quality which our clients have clearly recognised.”

Notes to Editor

HEROtsc will create 200 news jobs in Scotland following government support of £850,000 through the Regional Selective Assistance grant awarded by Scottish Enterprise. The posts will be based at Larbert, near Falkirk and Kilmarnock. The firm currently employs more than 1,600 employees at seven call centres throughout the country.

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There may not be much singing, but there’s certainly plenty of hard work going on at Dean Castle Country Park just now as the Council’s Countryside Services Section work with Xchange Scotland to develop an international volunteer . . . → Read More: THE XCHANGE FACTOR!]]>

Depute Provost John Campbell and Councillor Robert McDill meet Xchange volunteers at Dean Castle Country Park

There may not be much singing, but there’s certainly plenty of hard work going on at Dean Castle Country Park just now as the Council’s Countryside Services Section work with Xchange Scotland to develop an international volunteer project in the park.

Xchange Scotland is a voluntary organisation developed by Scottish volunteers and others committed to making positive changes in society. For the past six years, the members have been deeply involved in international volunteering with numerous local partners all around the world. Their aim is to open these exciting opportunities up to as many individuals and organisations in Scotland as possible, to bring people to Scotland for international volunteer projects and enable young Scots to volunteer abroad.

A group of 12 international volunteers and two leaders are working with Countryside Rangers at Dean Castle Country Park from 16 to 30 August on a project to develop a series of lagoons within the park. Once complete, the lagoons project will open up a previously inaccessible area of the park to the public and will have information boards, storytelling areas and a viewing platform. The creation of lagoons will also encourage a richer diversity of wildlife to the park.

This is the second year that Countryside Services have worked with Xchange Scotland. Last year’s volunteers helped to carry out path improvements on Cairn Table, one of the highest hills in Ayrshire.

Depute Provost John Campbell went along to see the volunteers in action and said: “For two weeks, the volunteers will be working in all weathers to help construct the lagoons. They are all working incredibly hard and their efforts will make a huge difference to the park. Many new friendships are being forged and I’m sure Countryside Services would be delighted to welcome them back for another year in 2011!”

If you are interested in volunteering abroad and would like more information about Xchange Scotland, contact Countryside Services on 01563 522702 or e-mail info@deancastle.com.

The Panel Members: Cathy Jamieson MSP; Fiona Lees Chief Executive East Ayrshire Council; Gerri Watt, Ayrshire Procurator Fiscal; Provost Stephanie Young; Sandra White Consultant Nurse NHS Ayrshire and Arran and Councillor Kathy . . . → Read More: INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S WEEK LAUNCHES]]> A Question Time session organised by East Ayrshire Women’s Forum got International Women’s Week in East Ayrshire off to a flying start.

The Panel Members: Cathy Jamieson MSP; Fiona Lees Chief Executive East Ayrshire Council; Gerri Watt, Ayrshire Procurator Fiscal; Provost Stephanie Young; Sandra White Consultant Nurse NHS Ayrshire and Arran and Councillor Kathy Morrice were all open and candid with questions from the audience which made it a very positive event.

The session allowed local women to pose questions on aspirations, difficulties and work life balance. The relaxed atmosphere created by the panel members allowed the audience to interact in an informal yet meaningful manner.

Provost Stephanie Young said: “It was a pleasure to be a member of the panel to launch International Women’s Week. We were all really scared that we were going to be asked difficult questions but in fact there was nothing between us that we couldn’t handle although some were trickier than others. One of the most meaningful questions was asked by a member of the VIP Partnership Group regarding people with disabilities and her comments that some things are easier said than done brought home the realities of how difficult it is for people with disabilities to find work.”

Audience member felt that the session was:
• “Very informal but informative.”
• “This was an extremely positive event, with a very impressive panel.”
• “Always useful to hear successful women share experiences.”
• “Nice to have a panel prepared to share so freely.”

There is still a full week of activities ahead throughout East Ayrshire, to view the programme check out www.east-ayrshire.gov.uk

This second successful bid was submitted through the East Ayrshire Employability Forum. The Forum is led by the Council and consists of representatives from Community Planning employability partners and other employability providers delivering services . . . → Read More: SECURING JOBS FOR OUR FUTURE]]> East Ayrshire’s latest successful bid to the Future Jobs Fund will support an additional 483 jobs in the area!

This second successful bid was submitted through the East Ayrshire Employability Forum. The Forum is led by the Council and consists of representatives from Community Planning employability partners and other employability providers delivering services throughout East Ayrshire.

Councillor Douglas Reid, Leader of East Ayrshire Council said: “The Scottish Government’s Future Jobs Fund is a programme which provides jobs for our young unemployed people. This second successful bid means that between October 2009 and March 2011 the number of jobs created by the fund has reached 596! This is great news for our area and of course for our young people.

“By offering opportunities to those in the most disadvantaged areas we hope to make a significant difference to tackling long term unemployment against a backdrop of economic recession.”

Notes to Editor

Future Jobs Fund Background Information:

The Future Jobs Fund is aimed primarily at people aged between 18 and 24 and who have been long term unemployed

The fund will be managed and supported by East Ayrshire Council’s Skills Development and Employability service.

The aim of Future Jobs Fund is to provide jobs that will deliver community benefit or will help to create ‘green’ jobs while giving jobseekers a real job for at least 25hours a week and for at least 26 weeks. Support to participants during their employment will be available and will include skills improvement and confidence building to help them gain permanent employment.

The jobs created by the Future Jobs Fund in East Ayrshire include:

• Community Gardeners
• Community Artists
• Recycling—Waste, Bicycles, Cans
• Childcare
• Meals on Wheels Cooks and Assistants
• Environmental “hit squad”
• Community Based Learning Assistants
• Employment Hot Line Operators
• Community Theatre Production
• Community Groups Administration Support
• Carers Support Assistants
• Physical Activities Assistants
• Community Activity Leaders
• Assistant Disability Job Coaches
• Financial Inclusion Assistants
• Community Youth Workers

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