Chief Executive of Qualifications Scotland visits SL33 in Kilmarnock

Welcomed by Director of Education and Skills, Linda McAulay-Griffiths and Chief Executive Eddie Fraser - Nick and Donna met with Margorie Harvie, Skills and Learning Employability Manager, Ian Burgoyne, Assistant Director of Education and Skills, and the wider team that currently delivers skills and learning programmes from two locations - Kilmarnock and SL66 in Netherthird. This place-based approach has proved very successful and work is well underway at SL99, a former social work office, which is currently accepting clients in the Doon Valley. 

Nick and Donna spent time chatting with young people who were working towards qualifications including barista training, customer service and employability; and spoke extensively with representatives from the DWP, Skills Development Scotland, Ayrshire and Arran Health Board and teams from across the Council who are based within SL33 each week.

They also found out more about the Council's recent decision to merge the employability team with Education Services to create a new team that delivers employability support to all-age clients, parents and carers.

Employability is key to the delivery of the Scottish Government’s aims of tackling poverty, promoting inclusion and social justice, and creating a fair and prosperous Scotland.

The Council’s long term priority has been to “Build a Fairer Economy”, an ambition which has motivated drives towards supporting business, building community wealth, regeneration and investment in education – all aiming to improve skills and opportunities for people of all ages to make the most of their abilities and talents.

It is clear from the Council's research and extensive work in this area that for many people the barriers to entering or re-entering the workplace are complex and varied and that simply finding a job opportunity is not enough. Using a holistic, person-centred approach, employability work coaches can build relationships with end users, identify barriers to employment and draw on expertise from other areas to help provide solutions and ongoing support for both employees and employers.

Linda McAulay-Griffiths, Director of Education and Skills said: "It was a real pleasure to welcome Nick Page and Donna Stewart to SL33. In East Ayrshire, our approach to skills and learning is unique and it is something we are very proud of. The SL33 team has worked very hard to develop partnerships with colleagues, community planning partners, the third sector, further education and of course, local businesses to ensure that we are doing absolutely everything we can to get young people ready for the world of work and supporting people of all ages to get back into work. 

"We are committed to working collaboratively to achieve the best possible outcomes for our young people, their families, our communities and businesses, and to bringing the best possible help and advice to boost peoples’ lives, prosperity and businesses in the face of all the challenges we meet.”

Nick Page, Chief Executive of Qualifications Scotland said: “Donna Stewart and I were delighted to visit SL33 and hear first-hand from learners, educators and East Ayrshire Council representatives about all the great work they are doing to achieve and deliver qualifications. It was inspiring to see how our qualifications are enabling people to develop knowledge and skills that will help them reach their potential and contribute to key sectors of the local economy.

“The learning and training opportunities being offered by East Ayrshire Council are a powerful example of the purpose of Qualifications Scotland in action – by working with partners across the education and skills sector, to give every learner the opportunity to fulfil their potential and to deliver for Scotland through being the most productive and skilled workforce in the UK.”