Equal Access To Employment In Glasgow

Introduction

The Glasgow Works business plan sets out an ambitious agenda for Glasgow. There are major challenges ahead, and the targets are stretching indeed, but the goal of full employment, reduced child poverty and a workforce enabled to contribute to its full potential for Glasgow is worth the effort. I very much look forward to working with you to make sure we all do our best to achieve it

—Jim McColl, Chair, Glasgow Works

Glasgow has been chosen as one of fifteen pathfinders in the UK to participate in the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) Cities Pathfinder Initiative.

This initiative aims to enable City areas to establish local consortia and by allowing them to shape the delivery and provision of training opportunities and employment programmes in their area, give them control over plans to tackle worklessness. The long term aim of the initiative is to achieve an 80% employment rate in the UK and it is recognised that Cities have an important part to play in this goal.

Funding allocated to this initiative in Glasgow includes a share of the £32M UK-Wide Deprived Area Fund (DAF), plus funding from the Scottish Executive, Glasgow City Council, Scottish Enterprise Glasgow and Glasgow Community Planning Partnership.

A City Strategy Partnership Group has been formed to be known as ‘Glasgow Works’ and will guide and monitor the delivery of the Strategy.

The Group is Chaired by Jim McColl (Welfare to Work Forum Chair) with representatives from Glasgow City Council (GCC), Greater Glasgow NHS Board (GGNHS), JobCentre Plus (JCP), Glasgow Community Planning Partnership (GCPL), Glasgow Employer Coalition (GEC), Scottish Enterprise Glasgow (SEG) and Glasgow Chamber of Commerce (GC).