Through an employment incentive in the form of a wage subsidy Strathaven Golf Club has been able to create employment for Fraser Clacher who lives within the windfarm scheme area. 

Thanks to Connect2Renewables, the golf club secured a part payment of salary for an agreed period of time to employee Fraser.

Fraser said: “When I left school, I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I didn’t even know that there were jobs you could get working at a golf course.”

So, Fraser signed up for a council Employability Fund programme which supports young people into work. The work experience part of the programme placed Fraser at Strathaven Golf Club which led to him being offered a greenkeeper apprenticeship. However, on completion of the four years there was unfortunately no openings for a permanent position.

“After I finished my apprenticeship I really wanted to continue with this kind of work,” Fraser said. “So, I looked further afield and managed to get jobs abroad learning about golf course construction and design. And after two years I was given the opportunity to work over in the USA with the added bonus of a chance to work at the US Open.”

However, just three days before Fraser was due to fly out, Covid-19 restrictions were imposed that prevented him going.

So back home in Glassford Fraser found himself out of work for almost a year as there was no openings available due to Covid, despite all his newly acquired skills and knowledge.

Desperate to get back into work, Fraser turned to the council once again and with initial support from the Employment Incentive scheme from Connect2Renewables, the golf club offered him the 12-week employability course.

But after only two weeks, head greenkeeper Stephen Hunter was so impressed with his work and attitude that he persuaded the club to offer Fraser a permanent position and has now worked his way up to Assistant Head Greenkeeper.

Stephen Hunter said: “I was very pleased that the council and the club were able to work together to make it possible for Fraser to come back to work with us.

“The training and knowledge he had acquired over the last few years have added greatly to the skills he learned as an apprentice and are already making a big difference to our ongoing course improvements. We are delighted that through the funding programme we now have a highly valued member of our team.”

And Danny Sneddon, the council’s Vocational Development Officer (Employer Engagement) who arranged the funding to get Fraser back into the club, said: “It is doubly satisfying that we have been able to help Fraser on two occasions, initially through the Employability Fund Programme and now with Connect2Renewables, helping him back into a job that he loves.

“This good news story must be a great incentive for employers who would also like to create employment and support local people back into work.

“Connect2Renewables has made this an easy process and we will help you through the journey if you qualify and meet the criteria for the programme.”

The Windfarm Fund Connect2Renewables Employability initiative is delivered by the council and is part of Banks Renewables commitment to the economy and communities within a 10km radius of its Kype Muir Windfarm development near Strathaven.

Robin Winstanley, sustainability and external affairs manager, Banks Renewables said: “We are proud of our partnership with the council and local people which ensures that members of the community can benefit from the renewables developments we have close by.

“We are delighted to have been able to help Fraser secure a full-time position with Strathaven Golf Club.  We wish him the very best of luck in his new job and look forward to helping many more from the local community into work.”

The purpose of the fund is to:

• provide employability support to local people, help with job search, CVs, application forms
• upskill or re-skill local unemployed people to help them get the skills they need to find work
• give help with training, childcare, transport, clothing for work
• offer first time college/university students a start-up grant
• provide wage subsidies to employers supporting local people into employment
• work in partnership with other local agencies to provide inclusive employability support

The initiative has helped more than 400 local people so far.

If you are interested in applying for support please get in touch by email connect2renewables@southlanarkshire.gov.uk or phone 0800 9520 070