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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Millionaire bids to help jobless | Millionaire bids to help jobless |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| One of Scotland's richest men is to lead a new group which aims to cut unemployment in Glasgow. | |
| Jim McColl will chair Glasgow Works, which hopes to get 17,200 people off benefits and into work or training by 2010. | |
| Mr McColl bought Glasgow-based Weir Pumps for £100m in May, a move that was credited with saving 600 jobs. | Mr McColl bought Glasgow-based Weir Pumps for £100m in May, a move that was credited with saving 600 jobs. |
| Glasgow Works will comprise leaders from the worlds of business, health and enterprise. | Glasgow Works will comprise leaders from the worlds of business, health and enterprise. |
| The group is officially launched on Wednesday. | |
| Since 1995 Glasgow has enjoyed the fastest growth in jobs in the UK with more than 60,000 jobs created, resulting in 40,000 Glasgow residents finding employment. | Since 1995 Glasgow has enjoyed the fastest growth in jobs in the UK with more than 60,000 jobs created, resulting in 40,000 Glasgow residents finding employment. |
| 'Real contender' | 'Real contender' |
| However, the city continues to have lower average employment rates than the rest of Scotland, with the latest figures showing it has 98,950 claiming benefits, with 56,690 on incapacity benefit. | However, the city continues to have lower average employment rates than the rest of Scotland, with the latest figures showing it has 98,950 claiming benefits, with 56,690 on incapacity benefit. |
| Mr McColl, who began his career as an apprentice at Weir Pumps and is now worth an estimated £435m, said he believed unemployment was the key issue facing Glasgow. | Mr McColl, who began his career as an apprentice at Weir Pumps and is now worth an estimated £435m, said he believed unemployment was the key issue facing Glasgow. |
| He added: "Glasgow has experienced massive economic growth in the last five years and is continuing to do so with projects such as the extension of the M74 and the development of the East End Regeneration Route. | |
| "In addition, the city is a real contender to win its bid for the 2014 Commonwealth Games, which would be an added bonus in terms of job creation for the city. | "In addition, the city is a real contender to win its bid for the 2014 Commonwealth Games, which would be an added bonus in terms of job creation for the city. |
| "With all the development activity taking place in Glasgow, we fully expect to hit our longer term target of 40,000 people off benefits and into work by 2010." | "With all the development activity taking place in Glasgow, we fully expect to hit our longer term target of 40,000 people off benefits and into work by 2010." |