Community benefits are linked to contracts awarded to housing developers and help boost employment and skills opportunities for local people, support community initiatives and bring economic benefits to areas such as opportunities for local businesses and local supply chains.

Over the past year, targeted recruitment and employment has seen 10 new entrants from priority groups start work; 23 work experience placements delivered; two paid summer placements; 15 careers events; nine site visits; three supply chain briefings; financial support for 12 community projects and non-financial support for a further nine. 

Some successful examples include: 

• The council’s education Build Your Futures initiative involving the council and construction partners was created to inspire young people to explore careers within the built environment. MAST Architects delivered a session for 20 young people from Bellshill Academy at the Old Town Hall, Motherwell, to take on the challenge of presenting a proposal for future design.
• Five Buchanan High School pupils and one from Caldervale High, all with an additional support need, took part in training for both SQA Health and Safety in a Construction Environment and Construction Skills Certification Scheme. In addition to passing exams, some have gone on to work in the construction industry.
• Contractors agreed to support two young people within the council’s Brighter Futures Programme for paid summer placement. The programme prepares students for future employment and addresses workforce challenges within their career paths in the built environment.

Housing convener, Councillor Michael McPake, said: “Our Community Benefits team works with services including employability, education and early careers paths into the building industry, with particular emphasis on supporting priority groups as part of our plan to help tackle inequalities. By doing this we can support people who are keen to embark on a career in the building industry while at the same time helping developers source the right local people for the right jobs.

“We’re committed to maximising the delivery of community benefits helping communities to thrive and continue to put local people at the heart of our future plans to make North Lanarkshire the place to live, learn, work, invest and visit.”

Financial benefits awarded include a £1,080 donation pledged from the Brandon Street Project to Forgewood Allotments group to rebuild some raised beds for disabled plot holders; £3,000 earmarked for Muirhouse Primary School working with deprived young people; £2,000 from the Castlehill Wishaw Project for the amenity housing common room and £3,200 from the Castlehill Project community benefits to support a paid summer placement within construction.

Several non-financial support valuing almost £10,000 was carried out, involving contractors donating assorted items such as training, time and excess materials for local projects.