Aberdeen City Council is looking to help more young people get into work this year.
The internship programme is part of the UK Government’s Kickstart scheme aimed at helping those aged 16-24 receiving Universal Credit find long-term employment.
The Kickstart scheme has helped more than 500 young people in Aberdeen find work so far, including 39 who are about to finish their internships.
Aberdeen City Council is now looking to bring 41 more interns into the scheme in 2022.
The internship was the first of its kind for the council and has been welcomed by local recruiters.
Some of the interns are going on to new roles or into education with the skills and training they received.
Nine have also been taken on by the local authority and will be given a permanent role.
Forty-one new interns are being recruited by Aberdeen City Council this year.
One area of the council to have benefitted from the scheme is the waste and recycling team, which has now four of the interns fully employed as refuse loaders.
As well as easing the workload on those already in the job, the initiative has helped put younger people into roles that don’t usually appeal to their generation.
Ryan Houghton, convener of the city growth and resources committee said: “By working collaboratively, we offer each intern a meaningful work experience which is hugely beneficial to both the young person and Aberdeen City Council.
“While there is no requirement for employers to keep the interns on at the end of their internship, we are keen that at least some of the young people will consider our apprenticeship opportunities or entry-level roles and remain in our employment.
“The scheme has shown that by giving young people access to new opportunities and the right support they can learn new transferable skills, gain valuable work experience and by doing so flourish in the workplace and beyond.”
To find out more information about the Kickstart scheme click here.