Thousands take part in the first Renfrewshire Employability Week

Careers and upskilling opportunities were at the forefront as Renfrewshire’s first-ever Employability Week came to a close.

Taking place from 2 to 6 September 2024, and facilitated by the Renfrewshire Local Employability Partnership, Renfrewshire Council joined a range of partners and local businesses to support local people into new career paths, showcase job vacancies and access new skills to help advance their careers.

Across more than 20 free events, including sessions with social care professionals and open days with key local employers such as Malcolm and McTaggart Construction, more than 1,000 people took part in Renfrewshire Employability Week.

Ross Hammell, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, said: “McTaggart were thrilled to participate in the Employability Week activities and offer an on-site experience for individuals exploring careers in construction.

“It’s important to showcase the wide range of opportunities within the industry and help inspire the next generation of construction professionals. By providing hands-on exposure, we hope to spark interest and support the development of valuable skills that will benefit both individuals and the community.”

Also, as part of Employability Week, school pupils visited the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS) and CPI’s Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre to promote careers in advanced manufacturing and life and chemical sciences, while others had the chance to see the site of the new Paisley Grammar School and Community Campus and the Renfrew Bridge as construction firms GRAHAM and Morrison Construction promoted careers in the industry.

Alison Engles, Performance Manager at CPI said: “We hope students were inspired to consider a range of careers and pathways in STEM in the future. We were delighted to introduce those who visited us to the wide variety of career pathways that we offer within life sciences. As an apprenticeship provider, this was also a valuable opportunity for our apprentices to share their experiences and offer a real insight into the world of work.”

Milo Sneddon, S5 pupil at Park Mains High School, said: “The event opened my eyes to the number of ways to get into a career in STEM, such as apprenticeship, university, college or straight from school. There are lots of aspects I hadn’t considered and the event highlighted to me what I would need going forward like certain qualifications and work experience. It’s really helped me understand what my options are after school, as well as the different jobs within STEM I could work in.”

There was also an open event at Paisley Town Hall outlining career opportunities available across the public sector, a jobs fair showcasing the latest vacancies in retail, and support to move into self-employment – while the Renfrewshire Employability Conference brought hundreds of professionals together professionals to review the local economy.

Councillor Andy Steel, Convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Economy and Regeneration Policy Board, said: “It was fantastic to see the range of opportunities available for people to access during our first-ever Employability Week and with hundreds of people taking part in events across the area, I want to thank everyone involved in making the week of action happen.

“We want to ensure everyone in Renfrewshire, from school pupils to established professionals, have the support they need to take the next step in their career – whether that’s a first foray into the workplace or a complete switch of careers.

“Employability Week was a snapshot of the support that the council can provide so if you’re still looking for guidance or a new opportunity, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our outstanding Invest in Renfrewshire team.”

Following the conclusion of Renfrewshire Employability Week, support and guidance continues to be available from the Invest in Renfrewshire team at the Russell Institute in Paisley, by calling 0300 300 1180 or online at investinrenfrewshire.com.