PEOPLE looking for work in North Ayrshire could soon get a helping hand to find a job - if proposals for a 'streetscene training academy' are backed by councillors.

North Ayrshire Council's cabinet will meet on Tuesday, February 22 to consider proposals for a Streetscene Environmental Skills and Training Academy.

If approved, the Streetscene Academy would offer unemployed residents the opportunity to join the council’s Streetscene service, which is responsible for the maintenance of open spaces, ground maintenance, environmental enforcement, and sustainable projects such as tree planting.

The proposals have been developed as part of the Council’s wider Covid recovery and renewal plans.

Participants will be paid the local government living wage of £9.90 an hour for a minimum of 30 hours per week during the 26-week placement.

The plans would see 12 participants recruited at two stages in the year over the next three years until spring 2025, the first of which is expected to get under way this spring.

The training academy is in addition to Streetscene’s long-standing commitment to Modern Apprentices (MAs), four of whom are recruited to the department each year - with many more MAs taken on by other council departments.

The council will work with partner organisations to provide participants with employability support and training to help with the transition into work.

On completion of the programme, which also involves employability support and training from other council partners, each recruit will be able to show off enhanced qualifications and more experience to the council or private contractors looking for full-time staff.

will finish with enhanced qualifications and experience and be well placed to secure employment with the Council or private contractors.

Council leader Joe Cullinane, cabinet member for community wealth building, said: “The Streetscene Academy has the potential to be a really rewarding programme for those that are unemployed in North Ayrshire.

"It would offer them a unique opportunity to gain skills and experience all while earning the real living wage – and potentially lead to long-term employment.

“It is recognised that our Streetscene service has an ageing workforce, with seasonal vacancies being recruited on an ongoing basis.

"By equipping local people with the necessary skills for the role, it would help to create a succession pathway as part of Streetscene’s future workforce.

“That’s why we agreed to invest £330,000 in this scheme back in June and we look forward to examining the detail at our cabinet meeting next week.”