A fresh agreement between the council and employability company Routes to Work Ltd will help ensure continued employability support for residents across local communities.
The service level agreement will build on the success of existing programmes, supporting people of all ages to access training, develop skills and move into fair and sustainable employment.
Routes to Work, which is owned by the council, plays a key role in delivering community-based employability services. It provides tailored support to people who are unemployed or facing barriers to work, including help with training, work experience and practical costs such as childcare and travel.
The latest figures show strong progress over the past year, with council-funded programmes exceeding their job outcome targets. Overall, 1,434 people moved into employment, surpassing the original target, with 71% still in work after 26 weeks.
The programmes have also supported residents who face additional challenges. Thirteen per cent of those who found work had previously been economically inactive, including people with long-term health conditions or caring responsibilities.
The new agreement will continue to focus on supporting those who need it most, particularly young people, parents on low incomes and individuals with health or justice-related barriers. It introduces two main programmes: a new all-age employment support service and a continued focus on parental employment.
Together, these programmes aim to support more than 2,000 residents over the year, with a strong emphasis on helping people secure and sustain employment.
Councillor Alex McVey, Convener of Enterprise and Fair Work, said: “This new agreement will help us build on the strong progress already made in supporting residents into work across North Lanarkshire.
“We know that having a job can make a real difference to people’s lives, and this continued investment means more residents will be able to access the right support, skills and opportunities to move into sustained employment.”
Kate Clark, Chief Executive of Routes to Work, said: “We are grateful to North Lanarkshire Council for their continued support of our drive and commitment to providing innovative employability services which meet the needs of the people of North Lanarkshire."
The investment also reflects the council’s ongoing commitment to improving economic opportunities and tackling poverty, as set out in The Plan for North Lanarkshire.
Residents can access support through North Lanarkshire’s Working, with referrals available through a range of channels to ensure people are directed to the most appropriate help.