www.inverclyde.gov.uk Autumn 2016 1 www.inverclyde.gov.uk Issue 23 Autumn 2016 The Council newspaper for all Inverclyde residents DECADE OF DELIVERY InView looks back at 10 years of Inverclyde Council, centre pages w w w Inverclyde Recruits P1 Scottish Grand Prix New chief of Inverclyde Orchard View 10th anniversary A success Appointed New project see page 3 w w w see page 5 w w w see page 8 w w w see page 10 w w w Exam Success for ‘A’ students Seventeen of Inverclyde’s secondary investment and the dedication of school pupils have been celebrating everyone involved in education.” exam success after scoring top It has been another successful year marks in their Highers. for Inverclyde’s schools Sixteen of the pupils have gained ‘A’ S5 Pupils achieving one or more grades in five subjects with one pupil Highers have again increased to 58.3% gaining A grades in six subjects. (from 52.1% last year) and those Education and Communities achieving three or more Highers to Convener Councillor Terry Loughran 30.5% (from 30%) - the best results in said: “This is an outstanding Inverclyde for over 11 years. achievement by everyone. Well done In S6 there was a greater percentage to each and every one of them for their of young people leaving school with efforts over the past few years. It is no at least one Higher (58.5% compared mean feat to gain A’s in every subject to 57.1% last year), three Highers and I know a lot of hard work has gone (42.8% compared to 38.1% last year), in to these results. five Highers (28.9% from 25.9%) and “Education is a key priority for the at least one Advanced Higher (18.1% Council and essential to ensure the compared to 17.9% last year). future economic and social prosperity 100% of S4 pupils in Inverclyde of Inverclyde. We are educating a achieved a pass in at least one course generation in new and refurbished at National 4 or above. 77% of S4 state-of-the-art schools with motivated, pupils passed more than five National professional and dedicated teaching 4 qualifications. 35.4% of S4 pupils and support staff giving our children passed more than five National 5 PLAN COMES TOGETHER: Inverclyde’s very own A team are joined by Education and young people the best possible qualifications at Grades A-C. Convener, Councillor Terry Loughran to celebrate their exam success. start in life. These results reflect that Picture by George Munro (Greenock Telegraph). Name in the frame for agency A planned new social security recommend engagement with urban agency for Scotland could be on regeneration company, Riverside its way to Inverclyde if the area is Inverclyde. chosen as its new home. Inverclyde council leader, Councillor For, Inverclyde Council has put Stephen McCabe, said: “Inverclyde forward the area as a potential home has excellent transport links, a strong for the planned new national agency local workforce and locations which which will administer social security could be used to host major employers. payments worth £2.7 billion. When a national agency, organisation The Scottish Government announced or business is looking for a location, the creation of the new agency earlier Inverclyde needs to be putting its this year. Now Inverclyde Council hat in the ring. A new national social has contacted Scottish Government security agency has the potential to sure that Inverclyde’s case is put to security agency, it is important that civil servants to let them know that bring jobs and investment to wherever the decision makers. While it is early Inverclyde’s name is being considered Inverclyde is a potential home and to it is headquartered. We need to make stages in the development of the social at the very earliest stages.” Are you ready to take the Million Mile Challenge? See the back page to find out how you can join 2 Autumn 2016 www.inverclyde.gov.uk Welcome We’re only a click away Welcome to the latest edition of You can now pay for a wide range Inverclyde Council Leader, Councillor A decade of delivery of council services online, with just Stephen McCabe, said: “While you’ll a click of your mouse or a swipe on always be able to get help from your Inverclyde has never been a place The results from our schools are a your mobile device. council in all the usual ways, we’re for standing still. glowing testament to the importance Sorting out council tax, planning, lots also developing an online self-service In the Council, that’s nothing new. we have placed on education. of licenses and even parking fines has function and even an app that will allow The Council is a multi-million pound It’s been a top priority over the past never been easier. you to access lots of services from organisation delivering essential decade and giving our young people And this is only the beginning as wherever suits you.” services to communities from Quarrier’s the best start in life is not just a job Inverclyde Council is planning to Village right through to Wemyss Bay. for our schools it is a mission. extend service to make things easier Visit inverclyde.gov.uk/ It has a staff of over 4,000 and Another decade milestone featured for mums and dads. to find out operates services so diverse that in this edition of InView is the Watch out for paying online for pay-it-online many multi-national companies would employment and skills programme, everything from school ties to trips! more. struggle to compete. The Recruit. That’s why a change at the very top This is a project which was of the staff structure is a significant one. developed right here in Inverclyde and John Mundell has been Chief its success has been emulated across Executive of Inverclyde Council since the country. 2006. In its 10th year the programme, as As John retires from Inverclyde well as directly delivering 96 jobs to Council, he can look back on a decade young people, has helped many others of delivery and achievement. to achieve success. In this edition of InView on pages 6 The young people on The Recruit and 7 we look back on just some (and have also helped raise over £100,000 I mean some) of the achievements over for Ardgowan Hospice - an incredible the past decade. achievement and on its own is one to It is only in the looking back that you be very proud. see how far we have come. As Inverclyde’s Chief Executive, The tremendous investment in our John Mundell steps down from schools is an investment in buildings, but the Council and hands over to his also in the future of our young people. successor, I wish him every success The opening of the community for himself and his family. campus is a particularly gratifying Inverclyde is a better place for him achievement, having seen it from its being here and I know that he leaves concept right through to having the with the best wishes of many who know honour of opening the campus. the hard work he put in. The investment in leisure facilities is I would like to welcome Aubrey second to none and our facilities are Fawcett to the position of Chief unmatched across Scotland. Executive of Inverclyde Council. Search for and apply for public sector jobs online www.myjobsctland.gov.uk/ inverclyde Follow our tweets for the latest news, events and jobs at: @Inverclyde www.inverclyde.gov.uk Autumn 2016 3 Magnificent seven Recruits Seven young people secured jobs with top employers at the final of Inverclyde Council’s innovative Recruit programme, which celebrated its tenth anniversary this year. Young people from S5/6 years in Inverclyde’s secondary schools devoted their summer holidays to participate in the award-winning personal development programme ‘The Recruit’. MAGNIFICENT SEVEN: Recruits and The final revealed 2016s ‘Top Recruit’ their new employers - Millie McFarlane with seven successful recruits being (Ardgowan Hospice); Lucy O’Donnell offered jobs from local organisations (Pursuit Marketing); Beth McKenna (West and businesses. College Scotland); Luke Stewart (Pursuit Luke Stewart was announced as Marketing); Lauren Boyce (ISS); Rachael the ‘Top Recruit’ for 2016 and wins a Phanco (PG paper) and Lorena McAulay position with Pursuit Marketing. TOP RECRUIT: Luke Stewart is the Top Recruit for 2016 on 10th anniversary. (ISS). Six other recruits received posts paying salaries of up to £14,000 from local firms PG Paper, West College For ten years running, the Ardgowan delivered so many opportunities for our 20 business reports and run small Scotland, Ardgowan Hospice, two Hospice has been the sole beneficiary young people with six new companies business ventures. All of this has been positions at ISS and a second post with of all donations accrued by The Recruit engaging in the programme for 2016. done during their summer holidays, Pursuit Marketing. programme. And, during the summer “The Recruit shows that young putting in 500 hours of work. The successful candidates were and on the evening of the finale, they people across Inverclyde are “The recruit allows candidates to selected based on their overall raised approximately £10,000 bringing motivated, ambitious and ready for grow personally and professionally as performance, attitude, potential, the ten year total to just over £100,000 work. That should come as no surprise was evident at the awards ceremony. personal drive, determination and for the Inverclyde-based charity. to many when Inverclyde is already “I would like to congratulate all the employability skills throughout the four Commenting on the announcement, one of the top performing council areas recruits for their outstanding efforts month programme of challenges and former recruit and Inverclyde Council’s in Scotland when it comes to young and wish them all the best for their activities with local organisations.