A COMMUNITY interest company looking to deliver unique practical training to unemployed people is this week showing off progress made at an iconic Alloa building.
Pathways To Employment CIC has been working away to bring into the 21st century several rooms on the bottom floor of the Liberal Club in the town.
With more to be revealed in the future, the iconic building – which already hosts charity Give a Dog a Bone – will be providing a space for a fresh venture in Alloa and Hillfoots Community Learning Centre.
The centre will be hosting an open day in due course with more to be revealed but before then, Pathways To Employment CIC is looking to show off the work this Friday, inviting others who run employability programmes in the area.
A community interest company (CIC), Pathways to Employment launched around six months ago to take a practical approach to learning and employment.
Director Darren Perrie, who also runs his recruitment firm Bespoke Resourcing Solutions (BRS), brings a wealth of experience to support the initiative, having also worked with Action for Children before.
From past experience, Darren sought to design a practical programme, chiefly for young people but also those older, which they can sustain.
The focus is on learning a trade on the job, rather than collecting certificates in a classroom setting.
PATHWAYS: The CIC is looking to deliver a practical employability programme
Darren told the Advertiser: “The concept is simple: create something that allows them to learn new skills while having a community impact.
“The idea is that instead of being in a classroom, you take them to a job that we can actually do on behalf of [community centres and similar].”
He added: “The activity itself has real learning, for instance in here we have: painting, plastering, they are taking electrical wiring up and down.”
Darren has been keen to create an employability programme participants can sustain.
“The guys have actually been turning up every day,” he continued.
“They've all achieved their 500 hour Saltire Award.”
The idea is that participants can create a portfolio of jobs finished to showcase to potential employers down the line.
Darren has also been keen to equip everyone with tools and PPE so that they could start their own small businesses or even just help out friends and relatives.
And for those who have been turning up and engaging, he is also happy to give a reference.
“This is practical learning, it's real muscle memory,” he added.
Find more details on Pathways To Employment on socialenterprise.scot.
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