Scotland is to receive a European cash injection of more than £34m to develop the country’s workforce and safeguard and create jobs.

At the National Job Summit in Glasgow, first minister Alex Salmond outlined the new allocations from the European Social Fund (ESF) and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) which aims to help 28,000 people to gain or sustain employment opportunities through training and support the creation of 193 jobs.

Community Planning Partnership initiatives will receive £16m of funding, while 43 projects in the Highlands and Islands area will get £18m.

Projects earmarked for funding include:

• Glasgow Works (£2.8m)
• Outer Hebrides Employability Support Programme (£1m)
• Enterprise Sells at North Highland College (£153,195)
• StARTworks (£110,500)
• Dundee CPP (£1.6m)
• Renfrewshire CPP (£1.1m)

Salmond said: “This announcement of more than £34m European funding will deliver vital support such as training opportunities to communities across Scotland, helping 28,000 individuals find fresh employment while assisting business growth, urban regeneration and rural development.”