Small businesses are being urged to tap into a scheme which helps them fund the cost of hiring trainees.
Scotland’s Employer Recruitment Incentive (SERI) had a cash pot big enough to supply 49 Aberdeen firms with awards worth almost £4,000 when it was launched in July.
While SERI has received plenty of inquiries about what it has to offer, so far it has only signed up five businesses.
And, with the Press and Journal’s Apprentice 100 campaign gathering momentum all the time, a call has gone out to companies to table their bids for a share of the SERI money.
Our quest to create 100 jobs in 100 days was given a major boost – by royal appointment – in the past few days when the Queen’s Balmoral Estate helped us reach the 50 mark.
Now officials at SERI hope the success of our campaign will inspire firms to give a talented youngster the chance to take their first steps on the career ladder.
The Scottish Government provides the funding for the incentive, which is managed by Skills Development Scotland and local authorities and provides employers with an extra £500 on top of the £4,000 grant if they agree to pay their new recruit the national living wage for a year.
Laura Penny, SERI administrator at Aberdeen City Council, said: “We are expecting a large number of the remaining spaces to fill up within the next two to three months as we are in discussion with many companies about getting them started on the scheme.
“We would urge anybody who is interested in a space on the scheme to contact us as soon as possible.”
The criteria for the funding are quite specific – though the main requirement is that the recruit should be aged 16-24.
The age range will be raised to 29 if the person has “additional support needs”.
Funding is also contingent upon the young person having been unemployed prior to their appointment.
SERI’s aim is to help make the process of hiring an apprentice “quick and painless”.
Ms Penny said: “We have members of staff on hand who are more than willing to help with every stage of the process, from giving further information to helping fill in the application forms.
“We can even help match young people looking for work with companies who are looking to take on young employees.
“We do not require large amounts of evidence from small companies and the process is designed to be quick and easy for everyone to get involved.”
Get involved in the scheme by contacting SERI@aberdeencity.gcsx.gov.uk.