Managing Employment, Enterprise and Training (OH-MEET)

Programme Type

The Managing Employment, Enterprise  and Training (OH-MEET) Programme involves participation in a waged placement mainly with an employer in the community or a community-based placement such as Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar’s (CNES) - Environmental Task Force Programme.
Our objectives include:

• Helping the unemployed re-enter the world of work.
• To provide work experience for the long-term unemployed.
• To equip participants with skills and qualifications to enable them to secure and keep employment or to become self-employed.
• To help create jobs through the provision of a waged work placement.

Eligibility

Eligibility criteria for the Outer Hebrides – Employment, Enterprise and Training Programme (OH-MEET) is as follows:

• Applicants must be registered as unemployed or in a critical job termination position.
• Referral to the programme must be endorsed by Jobcentre Plus.
• Applicants must be resident within the Outer Hebrides.

Programme Duration

The Programme is part funded by Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar, European Social Fund and JobCentre Plus and the present European Social Fund allocation terminates 31 December 2022

The normal hours participants will be expected to work per week will be 30 hours and your stay on OH-MEET will generally not be longer than 12 months.

Participant Support

Participants on the OH-MEET Programme, will be entitled to 20 days holiday per year (pro rata) plus any Public holidays that fall within their stay on the Programme.  They will receive a weekly wage of not less than the current National Minimum Wage (NMW) with any other financial support such as travel expenses agreed prior to placement.  Any necessary protective clothing will be supplied free of charge on a one off issue basis to the value of £100.

Other Information

The provision of adequate shelter and all domestic facilities including access to toilets and clean drinking water will be the responsibility of the Employer/Sponsor.  Arrangements, including financial responsibilities for wages will be by prior agreement between the Employer/Sponsor and the Comhairle’s Accredited Training and Skills Section.  Such arrangements and agreements will be covered during induction and prior to placement.

Programme Management

Staff within the Accredited Training and Skills Section of Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar or their appointed person, will monitor the ongoing management of the programme.  This will include assistance with the selection and recruitment of participants, general induction to the programme, action planning and review of progress through ongoing planned meetings with the participant and employer.

Criteria for Placement

• The OH-MEET wage support programme must recruit from the current unemployed register as held by Jobcentre Plus and must not be used to substitute or replace normal planned seasonal staffing recruitment;
• The work undertaken by the participant will be for a maximum of 30 hours per week, (hours worked in excess of this must be paid by the Placement Provider at a rate of no less than the current NMW and if less than 30 hours per week, must be agreed with CNES in advance);
• All health and safety legislation currently in operation in Scotland relating to other employees must be observed at all times;
• The minimum notice of termination of placement given to CNES will be one week;
• Unless otherwise agreed and the terms of the OH-MEET Programme are observed;
• For the purpose of evaluating and monitoring the OH-MEET initiative, access to ongoing review of progress will be afforded to CNES appointed staff after prior arrangement with the employee and employer;
• Evidence of attendance will be supplied in the form of signed weekly attendance sheets (supplied by CNES) and fortnightly submitted to the OH-MEET office in Stornoway.

Employer Responsibility

You must meet the criteria outlined above and take all the necessary steps to ensure the security of the health, safety and welfare of OH-MEET participants to the same extent, and in the same manner, as other contracted employees.  By signing the declaration section of the OH-MEET “Employer Placement Application Form”, employers indicate their acceptance of these conditions.

Outcome

The main targeted outcome for participants on OH-MEET is full time contracted employment within a wide range of job outcome options.

Publicity

If any publicity is sought for the Programme, the following funding partnership bodies must be acknowledged – European Social Fund, Employment Service and Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar.

Example Programme Activities

Outer Hebrides wide, this Programme can offer employment opportunities both within Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar and with other employers based in our community.  These opportunities can cover a wide range of vocational skills including for example, Business Administration, Bus Driving, Environmental Research, General Building Operative/Handyperson, Greenkeeping, Horticulture, Recycling, and Plant Operator.

Further Information

Anne Blyth
Education Development Centre
6 Kenneth  Street, Stornoway,HS1 2DR
e-mail: ablyth@cne-siar.gov.uk
Tel: 01851 822716