Youth Unemployment and the Future Jobs Fund

Written evidence submitted by Scottish Sports Association

The Future Jobs Fund & Sport –

Scottish sport has always prided itself on being innovative and exciting and with this in mind the SSA wasted no time organising a bid that offered a multitude of opportunities for young individuals. The programme offered sport a great opportunity to increase capacity, offer exciting roles to individuals and to provide community benefit across Scotland.

Within in a week Scottish sport had created some 100 jobs as a Scottish Sports Consortium ranging from IT to marketing and coaching to administration. The bid was placed as part of the SCVO’s wider Third Sector Consortium.

The initial co-ordination was undertaken by the SSA who supported its 14 members through the process. The SSA was the first organisation to employ an individual on the Future Jobs Fund in Scottish sport, closely followed by a large number of its member organisations.

With 35 individuals employed across the sports sector, Scottish sport has sought to deliver a comfortable working environment that both stimulates and challenges individuals to invest in and improve their employability skills.

Not only has sport offered a wide array of posts that are interesting to young people today but it has also offered them a real opportunity to gain full-time employment in a challenging job market.

Working in sport, and the wider Third Sector, is an opportunity to gain an insight into working in a slightly different environment. Many of our Future Jobs Fund employees have thrived in their settings which have been widely recognised by both their employers and partner organisations.

There has never been a more exciting time in sport with the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow now only 4 years away. Working in sport offers individuals an insight into the build up to a major sporting event as well as an opportunity to experience the sporting sector as whole. The Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games will require a massive volunteering force, with many of the Future Jobs Fund employees already highlighting this as a reason to work in sport and as a prospect for the future.

Scottish sport’s aim is to offer every individual that joins the sector through the FJF the opportunity to develop and grow within their post, equipping them with the appropriate skills to gain full-time employment within or outwith the sector.

Employer’s Perspective –

Scottish sport welcomed the first Future Jobs Fund employee on November 16th 2009, as the Scottish Sports Association employed Jaimie Henderson in the post of Administrative Assistant. Since Jaimie’s appointment 35 individuals have succeeded in gaining a post across the Sports Consortium.

The Sports Consortium has prided itself on the breadth of jobs on offer and the experience it can provide to its employees. The range of jobs include, IT, Administration, Communications and Coaching.

The most prevalent role within the Sports Consortium has been administration based roles, ranging from coordinating coaching in the community to membership services. Administration roles have also seen the greatest success in the uptake of full-time employment with 5 FJF employees’ now gaining full-time contracts, 4 of which are within their original organisations.

Coaching posts comprise a quarter of the total posts filled to date, 9 of which are with Scottish Hockey. To date one of these coaches has been employed full-time within the Scottish Hockey team.

The other 75% of posts filled in the Sports Consortium represent the wide range of jobs available in Scottish sport ranging from research and communications to facility maintenance.

71% of the employees are still under their Future Jobs Fund contracts and 9% of those who have completed their contracts have moved on with no employment identified to date.

However 20% of those employed in sport through the Future Jobs Fund have gained full-time employment, of which 71% remained in sport.

Sport’s success in delivering the Future Jobs Fund across Scotland has undoubtedly been made easier due to the diverse number of jobs on offer. This demonstrates that sport as a sector has a lot to offer not only to participants but to employees as well.

As a sector that is fast paced and challenging as well as fun and rewarding, employees have a great opportunity to test and develop skills whilst working in an environment that is both supportive and enjoyable.

The involvement of 14 sports organisations and the range of jobs on offer are both a testament to sport’s ability to adapt and to rally together in delivering innovative programmes.

Organisations such as Scottish Volleyball seized upon the opportunity to engage in the Future Jobs Fund. Not only did they find a six month placement for an individual on the programme but created the capacity to support this person through the term of the programme and offered them a full-time post within the organisation upon completion.

Margaret Ann Fleming, Chief Executive Officer of Scottish Volleyball, recognises the value of supporting individuals through the Future Jobs Fund in allowing them "to develop into a valuable member of staff."

Everyone in sport who has been engaged in the programme has strived to support and develop individuals throughout their time with the organisations. Many recognise that to lose an individual during their appointment to a full-time post may come as a blow, but more importantly it is the aim of all involved to encourage this.

Kim Atkinson, Policy Director of the Scottish Sports Association highlights this point "the success of sport in helping Future Jobs Fund employees into full-time work is fantastic. 20% of all employees have gained employment both within and out with the sector. Whether through participation or employment, sport helps to develop key life skills from team work and communication to working well under pressure and confidence."

The Future Jobs Fund has not only supported those individuals who have gained valuable experience, but it has also enriched the experiences of the wider public. Through initiatives such as Scottish Hockey’s FJF coaching programme the wider public have had increased access to quality hockey coaching.

Scottish Hockey’s 9 coaches have been based across Scotland’s Local Authorities. Supporting the work of Hockey Development Officers, individuals engaged through the FJF have trained in Scottish Governing Body recognised qualifications allowing them to deliver lessons alongside development officers. Working closely with Local Authorities helped to build confidence in Future Jobs Fund employees and allowed communities across Scotland to participate in sport at a local level.

From the Employees –

The Scottish Sports Association undertook a series of questionnaires with individuals employed through the Future Jobs Fund to best capture their experiences of working in sport.

87% of employees enjoyed their job always/most of the time with the same value identifying that they made a worthwhile contribution to the organisation/wider community.

Individuals employed through the programme have acknowledged that their placement has offered them valuable work experience with 87% stating they feel that their experiences have made them more employable in the future.

Applicants highlighted that "work experience in a relevant field" was most important to them. Those who were not specifically interested in sport detailed "the opportunity to gain very recent experience in a challenging environment" would help them in the future.

Of those employed 80% responded saying they would definitely work for their current organisation again with the other 20% responding with maybe. Despite only 60% of the employees regarding the sector as the main reason they applied for the post, 6 months later 87% responded that they would definitely want to work in sport again and a further 7% responding maybe to the same question.

Encouragingly, out of the 35 individuals who were employed in sport 80% of them responded positively to the question would they consider working in the wider Voluntary Sector.

Employees were asked to consider their role as volunteers in sport in the future. A massive 87% of feedback from the individuals said they would consider taking part in sport in a voluntary capacity following their Future Jobs Fund employment in sport.

The Future Jobs Fund of course is ultimately aimed at individuals who have been unemployed to help them back into employment in the future. With this in mind Scottish sport has been very focussed on offering the individual an exciting yet realistic role within their organisation giving them both confidence and relevant experience to aid them in their search for full-time employment.

Sports’ success in delivering a programme that is worthwhile and enjoyable for individuals is evident with 95% of employees rating their job as enjoyable.

Furthermore 87% of all employees regarded their Future Jobs Fund post as having a positive effect on their ability to source future employment.

Future Jobs Fund employees recognised and highlighted the opportunity to gain "very recent experience in a different working environment" would help them in their search for future employment.

Other candidates acknowledged the wide variety of opportunities on offer within sport. One individual stated "I have worked in an office before, however that was more telephony based, so this [job] will give me a lot more experience with having to do a greater variety of office tasks."

Sport, much like the greater Third Sector, believes strongly in partnership working, and all Future Jobs Fund employees have been introduced to the multitude of organisations, public and non-public bodies and individuals that operate across the sector. The skills developed within sport not only allow individuals to work within Governing Bodies but across these organisations as well. One individual enjoyed working in sport because, "it is part of a wide range of opportunities, including schools, national championships and the Commonwealth Games."

Sports Governing Bodies have endeavoured to ensure that individuals employed through the Future Jobs Fund are given as much insight into the workings of their organisations and are introduced to as many partners as possible.

Future Jobs Fund employees from Scottish Squash, Snowsport Scotland and the Scottish Sports Association were part of a Future Jobs Fund delegation that met Shona Robison Minister for Public Health and Sport at the Scottish Parliament.

Christine Dunlop (Snowsport Scotland), Ross Cairns (Scottish Squash) and Jaimie Henderson (Scottish Sports Association) all had the opportunity to meet with the Minister, a number of Government Officials and partner organisations to discuss the positives of the programme and how their experiences of working within sport and their relative organisations have had a positive impact on them.

Case Study One – Scottish Cycling

Scottish Cycling has employed 2 individuals through the Future Jobs Fund in Administration and Communications posts. Both these posts are directly linked to the success of their current strategic plan.

Cycling has looked to create posts that are both innovative and challenging and therefore attractive to a younger age group. They have sought to give people an opportunity to develop in a comfortable yet challenging environment that affords the employees a chance to grow and gain real experience in the office and sport setting.

Sine Munro, Corporate Services Manager, for Scottish Cycling said, "these brand new posts have added to the corporate structure at Scottish Cycling, obviously this presents many challenges however the ability to use these fully funded posts to help reach corporate goals is twinned with the organisations role in developing and supporting previously unemployed youngsters."

The programme has not been all plain sailing for Scottish Cycling, Sine Munro pointed out that, "there were issues related to recruitment . Application forms were poor presented and the information detailed was often wrong or insufficient. There may be scope for better support for youngsters whilst filling out applications by the job centre."

Richard Ferguson, Communications Officer and Future Jobs Fund employee, said the programme was, "highly innovative and very attractive to youngsters." He continued to say that, "the opportunity to work in an office like Scottish Cycling was a very attractive and exciting opportunity, it wasn’t the usual volunteering picking up litter or anything like that, it was a real office, paid job that allowed you to feel you were contributing to something greater."

Richard was clear that, "the fact that the job is paid is important. I am not getting up to volunteer or forced to volunteer. I have had the opportunity to apply for a job that I might not have been able to in the past. The feeling when you get paid at the end of the month is amazing; it is a morale boost and a sign that you have done a good job."

Richards only criticism is, "it would be better to be a one year funded post. 6 months work is good, but a year would look far better on a CV, the time you get settled and trained up you are starting to look elsewhere. If I had the chance to work here for a year in a funded post, it would make a fair greater difference to me and my CV."

Case Study two – Scottish Volleyball

Scottish Volleyball is a small governing body consisting of 3 full-time members of staff. Margaret Ann Fleming, Chief Executive, got involved in the Future Jobs Fund because, "it offered the organisation and opportunity to increase its capacity and support a young employee in the process."

The post created was directly linked to Scottish Volleyball’s corporate plan and was aimed to help reach the goals and targets involved. Volleyball however did not have the funding to create the post and therefore the opportunity to support a young individual through a fully funded post was perfect.

Scottish Volleyball are in fact one of the organisations who have managed to source the funding to create a full-time post for their Future Jobs Fund employee upon on completion of her six month contract.

Stephanie, Former Future Jobs Fund employee and now full-time Administrator at Scottish Volleyball, said, "the Future Jobs Fund has helped me greatly, without the 6 month experience I would have struggled to gain this post, but because of my experience and corporate knowledge I was able to successfully gain full-time employment."

Stephanie highlighted that, "whilst working here on the Future Jobs Fund, I knew it was a paid post, it was volunteering or work experience, it was real work, and I had a duty to work to the best of my abilities. Everyone in the office was very helpful and supported me in the role and it has allowed me to develop and eventu ally gain full-time employment."

Margaret Ann, highlighted that, "with the creation of a one year fully funded post, Future Jobs Fund employees would have a far greater advantage in gaining full-time work. Organisations would be far better placed to deliver training, experience, and support. If the programme was one year many organisation in the third sector and especially sport would have a better chance to work up a business case to keep and fund the post created. This would benefit everyone involved."

Conclusion –

The Scottish Sports Association and its 13 partner organisations were extremely disappointed by the recent Government announcement to end the Future Jobs Fund programme. Although the programme will run till March 2011, Scottish sport had developed a highly successful programme delivering a fun and sociable environment with the opportunity to hone lifelong and employability skills.

 Although Scottish sport undoubtedly benefits from the programme, when it ends it is our unemployed young people who will lose out on the unique opportunity the programme has provided for them to work within the sector.

Scottish sport however recognises and welcomes the value of the programme to date, and seeks to demonstrate its value across the sector and also to the wider public.

The Scottish Sports Association recognises and praises the enormous success of the Future Jobs Fund throughout sport and thanks our partners for their positive and enthusiastic contributions. The FJF has provided significant benefits for individuals, organisations and communities and the SSA hopes the programme will be allowed to continue, and indeed expand, to further these benefits.

The Scottish Sports Association would be happy to present oral evidence to the Work and Pensions Committee if the committee sees fit and is happy to contribute more evidence up on their request.

10 September 2010