This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Warm welcome in the Granite City
21/11/2005
Aberdeen City Council has been praised for its approach in welcoming new residents.
The city is leading the way in helping people who come to Scotland under the Fresh Talent scheme integrate and settle faster in local communities, according to Deputy Minister for Finance George Lyon.
Mr Lyon was speaking during a visit to Aberdeen where he met three Polish joiners who came to settle in Scotland after hearing of the Fresh Talent scheme and attending a jobs fair in Poland organised by the City Council.
The Council has taken a number of measures to help people settle in the area, including a welcome pack for all new migrants, free English lessons, a welcome reception hosted by the City's Provost and the creation of a cross-working party group to look at the ongoing needs of migrants.
Mr Lyon said:
"Fresh Talent is working on an international level to attract bright, talented and hardworking people to Scotland. We must ensure that people receive the warm and friendly welcome Scotland is renowned for at a local level.
"The Executive is working with all local authorities in their key role to provide people coming to Scotland with the help and information they need to feel part of local communities.
"Aberdeen City Council has taken on this role with enthusiasm providing as well as factual information, discount vouchers, invites and anecdotal information on local services and social events.
"It is not enough to ask people to come live, work or study in Scotland. We need to show we want them to come - and stay."
Councillor Kate Dean, Leader of Aberdeen City Council said:
"We have been working hard to ensure we have a full programme in place to assist workers coming from overseas to integrate into Aberdeen society and settle here and this approach is now being emulated by other authorities.
"It is clear that we need to encourage workers to come to the city to maintain our strong economy and to grow the population."
She added: "The visit to Poland earlier this year was a tremendous success - both in terms of the levels of interest from the local population, and the high quality of candidates who presented for interview.
"We are absolutely delighted that this has resulted in successful recruitment and very pleased to welcome these Polish workers to Aberdeen."
Bill Robertson, Executive Chairman for Robertson Group, the firm who employs the Polish joiners, said:
"Robertson Group fully recognises the importance of the Fresh Talent programme and is happy to support its aim of working towards greater integration of overseas workers into the communities in which they earn their livings.
"It is important that employees do their utmost to promote a good understanding between their indigenous and overseas employees and ensure that all benefit from the programme."