Raploch Community Enterprise

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1 Employabilty Learning Raploch Community Enterprise Contact: Nicole DeBrincat debrincat@raploch.com Tel: Web:

2 Employability Raploch The growth of an enterprise The Community Enterprise began life in 2006 as a springboardtraining centre for a small number of unemployed people to access jobs on the physical regeneration of Raploch. Its parent company Raploch Urban Regeneration Co Ltd were pioneers of the Community Benefit in Procurement (CBiP) clause. This legally bound their developer R3 (Cruden/Wimpey) to provide a minimum of 225 jobs and training places over the life of the project, which would see the build of 900 new homes, road works, public realm improvements and major infrastructure works. In its first year the Community Enterprise received funding from the European Social Fund. Unemployed clients were recruited and spent 6 months with the project working on live construction/landscaping contracts in addition to gaining accredited vocational training. Over 85% went on to secure permanent employment following their period with the project.

3 Recognition and Accolades Employability By 2008 the Community Enterprise became recognised as a quality training and learning company and had developed so much that in addition to delivering Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) and First Aid, Raploch became a Skills Development Scotland Learndirect branded learning centre as well as a Scottish Qualification Authority approved centre. Also, the demand for training places from both unemployed individuals and referral agents such as Jobcentre Plus, Stirling Council Youth Services and Skills Development Scotland grew enormously. The client group being referred were most often those with high levels of personal problems that prevented them from accessing the comprehensive range of services available in the local area and therefore unable to break the cycle of unmanageability and move into meaningful training and quality employment. Provision of personal support including measuring well-being goal setting, motivation, selfesteem, problem solving and team working are now included in the project. Mentoring and working with partner agencies also offers support with mental/ physical health, housing, finance, substance abuse and relationships. A high level of intensive employability training rounds off this holistic range of services to those most in need. European funding ceased to be available to the Community Enterprise as Raploch sits in the wealthy area of Stirling which is means it is not an eligible geographical area. However, not to be deterred applications were made for grants such as Fairer Scotland Fund and BIG Lottery Awards for All. Bids were also made for national training programmes, Training for Work, Get Ready for Work, Department of Work and Pensions Disadvantaged Area Fund, Activity Agreements are now also among the portfolio of training being provided. In 2010 c.300 people were trained at the Community Enterprise on a variety of bespoke and national programmes ranging from 2 day specific awards such manual handling, 8 week part-time sports coaching and employability to 13 weeks on Training for Work. The Community Enterprise was also a lead Body for Future Jobs Fund between 2008 and 2011 and as a result 70 jobs were created.

4 Employability Challenges and looking forward Staff at the Community Enterprise are dedicated to improving people s lives through their own expertise and that of their partners. To date, three former trainees are now employed by the Community Enterprise. The Community Enterprise will continue to work tirelessly towards securing a better future for those most vulnerable in our community and working in collaboration with our partners. The current economic climate has created more of a need for the services of the Community Enterprise but sadly, the number of jobs available for people to move into has decreased. However, there is great potential within the social enterprise field for jobs to be created for the benefit of our communities and their residents.

5 Employability Joanne Farrow Learning Development Manager The Scottish Government 5 th Floor, 5 Atlantic Quay 150 Broomielaw, Glasgow G2 8LU Joanne.Farrow@scotland.gsi.gov.uk The views expressed in case studies are those of the participants and are not necessarily shared by their employers or the Scottish Government