WEST Dunbartonshire is set to benefit from a share of £8.8m worth of contracts designed to get people into work.

The announcement was made by the Scottish Government and West Dunbartonshire is one of five local authorities to benefit.

From April 2018 the new Fair Start Scotland service will aim to help at least 38,000 people to find employment, including those facing barriers to entering the labour market.

Employability Minister Jamie Hepburn confirmed that these employment support services will be delivered by The Wise Group, in partnership with Working Links, the Scottish Association for Mental Health, The Lennox Partnership, ENABLE Scotland, and the Royal National Institute for the Blind.

Speaking in the Scottish Parliament Mr Hepburn said: “Awarding the Fair Start Scotland contracts is an important milestone in our commitment to providing Scottish employment support."

Other areas to benefit include East Renfrewshire, Inverclyde, Renfrewshire, and East Dunbartonshire.

For further information on the Fair Start programme: http://www.employabilityinscotland.com/devolved-employment-services/employment-support-2018/