HUNDREDS of jobs and apprenticeships have been delivered through the awarding of council contracts totalling £89million. 

Renfrewshire Council’s annual procurement report, presented to the finance board last week, showed winning bidders have committed more than 300 employability opportunities since benefits were first recorded in 2015.

And there have been more than 230 different educational initiatives agreed over the last four years such as school visits and work experience placements.

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It was through a community benefit Scott Farrell, from Paisley, secured a graduate engineering post at design consultancy Sweco.

After completing his degree at the University of the West of Scotland, the 26-year-old struggled to land a job.

But after the council’s employability team put him in touch with colleagues at Sweco, who have supported many community benefits as part of their work on local infrastructure projects, Scott completed a four-week work experience placement and, subsequently, a summer internship, before being offered a full-time role.

Scott said: “I’m so grateful I was given the opportunity to gain graduate level experience and show what I could do.

“My first project is working on the Glasgow Airport Investment Area Project, which has been great.”

The council’s community benefits forum, which includes representatives from procurement, economic development, education, Invest in Renfrewshire and the voluntary sector, work with contractors once a contract is awarded to ensure opportunities to deliver community benefits are maximised.

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Board convener Councillor John Shaw, said: “Scott’s story underlines why we have put community benefits as a vital component of tendering for council contracts alongside our commitment to promote a positive and inclusive approach.”