Looking for information on Scottish Jobseekers

Vulken

Hi there and thank you for reading.

So the information I seek is actually not for myself.

I've recently met two people who have moved from Greece to Scotland on an online game. I happened to be asked what I did for work and mentioned I'm part of the Civil Service in Northern Ireland. So the topic came up about their efforts to find work and the situation they find themselves in.

Now, I know some will have the opinion that they shouldn’t be here in the first place. I'm meeting people on JSA every day; I don't want to hear that "they should go home". These people are searching for work every day walking around Glasgow. Few young people I know of walk around their towns looking for work whilst on JSA. So I’m willing to spend as much time as it takes to help them find work.

Ok, to get to the point. I need information on something within Glasgow, perhaps someone has been there and done it.

These two have been sent to a place called 'Jobs & Business Glasgow'. I've looked at their website and they seem to be some form of training organisation. These two have told me that the Advisor at the Job Centre Plus (In Northern Ireland there is no Job Centre Plus, it is just referred to as Job Centre) is not very helpful and doesn't seem to want to explain very much, I'm of the opinion he is taking advantage of the fact they don't have the best grasp of English. They seemly have been told by the advisor that this is mandatory. But these two have no clue exactly what this is all about. Yesterday they went (on my advice) to this place to try and get more information but they wanted them to sign something without allowing them to take it home to read it and let me hear it to see what is going on. Can someone who perhaps has been through this, please explain what role 'Jobs & Business Glasgow' plays in the Jobseekers world.

The next question is in regards to a youth employment scheme. In Northern Ireland there is a scheme called 'YES' which stands for Youth Employment Scheme. It is for 18-24 year olds and it has 3 steps. Work experience (8 weeks), work experience with some form of NVQ included for a long period (6 months) and an employer subsidy for 1 year if they take someone out for employment. Now, I'm trying to find out of these two could get on some scheme like this to give them a top up on their benefit and gain work experience in Scotland, because I've told them already that they have very little chance to find full-time work in the UK without at least one reference of work experience.

Thank you for reading & Hopefully someone can advise me!

GothicStirling

I can't really answer your question, but I suspect that until they improve on 'not having the best grasp of English' they are going to struggle find employment or training. They need to ask their advisor about courses to improve their English.

ohreally

Jobs and business Glasgow are a city council ALEO

They are geared to helping long term and difficult to reach groups.

I'll pm a couple of usefull links later.

marleyboy

These people are searching for work every day walking around Glasgow. Few young people I know of walk around their towns looking for work whilst on JSA.

And there is the problem. When I worked in America, I did not just wander around the States claiming a benefit whilst looking for work. I applied and got the job well in advance of crossing the water.

I would not dream of moving into a foreign country on the basis of going to look for work there.

sniggings

Vulken wrote: »

These people are searching for work every day walking around Glasgow. Few young people I know of walk around their towns looking for work whilst on JSA. So I’m willing to spend as much time as it takes to help them find work.

why slag off one group of people when trying to help another?

The reason why they are walking around is they will not be able to use/have the internet or be able to read English, the young people you say you don't see, is probably because they are making better use of their time in hunting for work online etc walking the streets is not the best use of ones time.

And don't think other countries don't have lazy work shy people, they have, they just are too lazy to leave their own country and come here!

I find it really strange, how someone can post on here asking for hep for someone, yet at the same time class a whole group of young UK kids as work shy.

Your caring side only seems to stretch to the non British, weird that.

Nebulous2

There are a lot of jobs available in Scotland. Often hard work, often minimum wage, but they are there. Areas such as farming, catering, tourism.

Two problems though - it's not the best time of year, and Glasgow is not the best place. A lot of the work is seasonal and it is often in remoter areas. Hotels in some of the out of the way places often offer accommodation May to October time. A lot of the work doesn't need good English, jobs such as kitchen portering, cleaning rooms etc. Glasgow whilst generally very friendly, has higher unemployment than most of the rest of the country, as it is still struggling with its post-industrial past.

sniggings

Nebulous2 wrote: »

There are a lot of jobs available in Scotland. Often hard work, often minimum wage, but they are there. Areas such as farming, catering, tourism.

Two problems though - it's not the best time of year, and Glasgow is not the best place. A lot of the work is seasonal and it is often in remoter areas. Hotels in some of the out of the way places often offer accommodation May to October time. A lot of the work doesn't need good English, jobs such as kitchen portering, cleaning rooms etc. Glasgow whilst generally very friendly, has higher unemployment than most of the rest of the country, as it is still struggling with its post-industrial past.

doesn't Jamie Oliver has a place there, your talk of min wage and hard work made me think of that for some reason maybe they could try there, as he also thinks the UK youth are lazy, just as the OP does.

Vulken

sniggings wrote: »

Your caring side only seems to stretch to the non British, weird that.

Hi there,

Sorry, I missed the point where I said BRITISH young people.

But to make it clear, I'm not insulting any group..

Any young person who shows the grit to get out there and look for work deserves nothing but the best from their government.

I'm just a little tired of these 'Anti-EU' groups when our stats show the ball is not rolling one way when it comes to 'Your young people invading our country'. But that is a topic for another time.

sniggings

Vulken wrote: »

Hi there,

Sorry, I missed the point where I said BRITISH young people.

But to make it clear, I'm not insulting any group..

Any young person who shows the grit to get out there and look for work deserves nothing but the best from their government.

I'm just a little tired of these 'Anti-EU' groups when our stats show the ball is not rolling one way when it comes to 'Your young people invading our country'. But that is a topic for another time.

oh please, I will discuss with you but don't be dishonest, you clearly were comparing the British youth with your non English speakers, to say otherwise is being disingenuous.

As said you can not compare a few foreign workers to the whole UK youth population, youth unemployment is at 20% so that means 80% are either in work or training/uni, which leaves 20% not working, if you consider out of those 20% some are not lazy etc and want to work, the percentage is not that high, I'm sure if you go to some of these EU counties will will find just as many people there sitting on there back sides etc, you just can't see them, but they are there, so by all means stick up for them but why do you feel the need, at the same time, put another group down, which you were clearly doing.

Vulken

sniggings wrote: »

oh please, I will discuss with you but don't be dishonest, you clearly were comparing the British youth with your non English speakers, to say otherwise is being disingenuous.

As said you can not compare a few foreign workers to the whole UK youth population, youth unemployment is at 20% so that means 80% are either in work or training/uni, which leaves 20% not working, if you consider out of those 20% some are not lazy etc and want to work, the percentage is not that high, I'm sure if you go to some of these EU counties will will find just as many people there sitting on there back sides etc, you just can't see them, but they are there, so by all means stick up for them but why do you feel the need, at the same time, put another group down, which you were clearly doing.

You are 100% correct. Thank you for your detailed and helpful analysis of the situation & topic.

sniggings

Vulken wrote: »

You are 100% correct. Thank you for your detailed and helpful analysis of the situation & topic.

thanks but I do feel you don't mean it :rotfl:, it's so funny you post a comment then back away from it so easily.

so tell me, if you were not comparing these non English speakers to the British that "you don't see walking around" who were you comparing them too? themselves? non EU immigrants? sheep?

At least have the back bone to stand by your comments, instead of lieing and using sarcasm to squirm out of supporting your argument.