West Lindsey was awarded £585,000 last year to create 90 jobs in 18 months. The jobs created last for at least six months, pay at least the minimum wage, offer a minimum of 25 hours’ work per week and must benefit the community. The jobs on offer typically involve administration, grounds work, forestry or environmental work with green projects or in social enterprises.

However, the council’s employment and skills team have taken the initiative to seek out additional placements locally for candidates whose vocational backgrounds warrant more specialised opportunities. “We’re very much focused on the individual and that’s key to our success,” said Nicoya Palastanga, the council’s employment and skills project manager. “We look at the individuals who come through the door and try to create a job that will fit their experience and skills.”

A recent example involved an unemployed young man who applied for a gardening job but had two years of training as an electrician.
Because of the council project team’s efforts to seek out an opportunity where he could build on his training, an electrician’s position was secured for him with a local firm on a two-year contract, which would also include more training.

“It was quite amazing,” Palastanga told Recruiter.

West Lindsey comprises Gainsborough, Market Rasen and Caistor, with a population of 88,900. Palastanga noted that the level of unemployment in Gainsborough has “always been higher than the national rate”.

To date, the West Lindsey programme has put 51 people in work.