FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Scottish employability agenda gets a business boost

Scottish Business in the Community (SBC) is pleased to announce that John McElwee, Regional Head of Human Resources for Marks & Spencer in Scotland, has been appointed as Chair of Scottish Business in the Community's Employability Leadership Group, which aims to improve employability in Scotland.

Scottish Business in the Community's Employability Leadership Group comprises of Scottish business leaders, academics, and representation from the Scottish Government. This group aims to encourage Scottish employers to recruit from the wider labour pool, including lone parents, incapacity benefit claimants and ex-offenders. By engaging Scottish businesses directly, the Group hopes to directly address the genuine needs and issues facing businesses in embracing employability issues. In turn, it is hoped that by tapping into the already exisiting 'invisible' labour pool, Scottish businesses can reap the benefits from previously untapped talent.

On taking up the position of Chair, John commented:

"By providing wider employment opportunities, businesses can reap as much benefit as employees. Our initial aim is to make it easier for Scotland's business network to access these valuable resources, thereby improving our economic growth potential.

To this end, our first major piece of work will be a study of companies in the private sector to see how employability features within their business model. This piece of research, supported by Napier University's Business School, is significant as it is one of the first studies commisioned from a private perspective into this agenda. We hope to be able to use the research to provide guidenace for companies - many of which are confused by the challenges presented by employability."

Using the key messages extrapolated from the research, the group will engage with the Scottish Government, to discuss the results, which will assist with the shaping of the political agenda in this area.

Companies sitting on the group include: Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Nairns Oatcakes, John Wood Group, Royal Mail, Dunfermline Building Society, Aramark, Weber Shandwick, Alliance Boots and Haven Products.

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