February 2023

1 February - Deadline soon: Objective Connect closing 14 February, take action.  

At the council we recognise we have a strong need for collaboration with partners outside of our organisation.

We frequently have to share a variety of information with external organisations often of a sensitive, personal, financial, commercial and political nature.  Historically we used Objective Connect as our secure external file sharing platform, to exchange files with partner organisations which were too sensitive, or too large, to email.

From 14 February 2023  the council will no longer use Objective Connect for this purpose, as our contract expires. This provides us with the opportunity to move to use SharePoint - an existing product within our Microsoft 365 software suite. This will result in significant savings and an enhanced user experience for the council. 

All staff who use Objective Connect need to take action before this date - to move items that they need to keep across to SharePoint and also delete items that are no longer needed out of Objective Connect.

We have a series of  staff support guides to help you with these actions. You can also find a copy of briefings issued here.

1 February - Marc's story: helping young people to flourish

We have a number of Youth Employment Initiatives that provide young people and young adults with the opportunity to get workplace experience and gain industry recognised qualification.

Read about Marc Stewart's workplace journey  

"I started with the council through the Improving Transitions to Modern Apprenticeships Programme (IMAP) -which provides work experience for up to 26 weeks. The placement introduced me to working in the Chief Executive Departments Web Management Team - who are responsible for looking after the main council web site and the Connect Intranet site.  As part of this short-term placement, I supported a number of work areas and developed my skills and knowledge in an area that I've always been really interested in." 

"In February 2022, I progressed onto the Kickstart programme, which was launched by the Government during the pandemic - for people like myself who wanted to improve their chances of securing long-term employment.  However, a few months into this placement, a Modern Apprenticeship (MA) in Digital Applications Support, was advertised in the Web Management Team.  This seemed like an ideal fit for my skills and knowledge so I decided to apply for it and I was delighted when I successfully secured the position - the MA will provide me with around 2 years' work experience with the opportunity to get an industry recognised qualification (SVQ)."

"The council is in the process of upgrading its website, so since I've started my MA, I've been learning how to use the web content management system software (GOSS) so content can be moved from our existing website to the new one.  I've also been getting experience updating the content, building online forms and working with images and video for the website." 

"I am so pleased to have secured an MA and for all the employment initiatives that are available within the council, as these have really helped me to kick-start my career and provided me with the springboard to take the next steps.  I'm looking forward to continuing to develop my knowledge and skills in an area that I'm passionate about."

Work, Earn and Learn 

If you live within the Glasgow City Council boundary, and you have a young adult in your family who is unsure about what career path they want to pursue, an MA could be the right choice for them - do they want the opportunity to earn while they learn?  If so, they can speak to the Careers Officers or the Developing Young Workforce Officers in their school to find out about the MA training programme or get guidance about what options are available to them.

Anyone considering an MA should create an account with Glasgow Guarantee  and this will give them access to MA opportunities right across Glasgow, including those within the council.

1 February - The awards keep coming!

Congratulations to CPU who won Best Procurement Delivery Award for the introduction of the Education Counselling Framework at the GO Excellence in Public Procurement Awards 2022 - held in the Crowne Plaza Glasgow on 27 October.  Since 2002, the GO Awards have recognised the achievements of procurement teams from organisations in the public, private and third sector.

The Award recognises the efforts of CPU who, along with stakeholders from Education Services, Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership were tasked with developing the Sourcing Strategy to deliver the Education Counselling Framework - which supports the Scottish Government's initiative for all Primary 6, Primary 7 and Secondary school students to be given the opportunity to have access to a counsellor and appropriate support services as well as being extended to provide support to families and key adults in a student's life."

The team were also finalists in the following award categories, Collaborative Procurement Initiative and Best Procurement Delivery.

Maureen Fitzpatrick, Head of Corporate Procurement said:"What a tremendous night, we were thrilled to be shortlisted for 3 awards - I am delighted the team received this well-deserved recognition and prestigious award."

"Achieving this Award is a team effort and it highlights our close working relationships as well as successful collaborative partnerships with not only Education Services but other key council teams such as Legal Services and Financial Services."

For more information

• Meet the CPU team and learn more about their work here
• Read case studies that demonstrate how the goods, services and works contracts awarded by the Corporate Procurement Unit benefit our citizens, communities and the city.

1 February - Support and guidance is available for Scottish hosts

Scotland is a safe place for people fleeing the war in Ukraine. The Scottish Government is looking for households to welcome people in Scotland.

Homes for Ukraine Scheme

Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and the movement of displaced people across Europe, the UK Government launched the Homes for Ukraine Scheme on 14 March 2022 to assist Ukrainian nationals and their families to be sponsored to come to the UK, alongside a call for UK households to become hosts.

The Scottish Government launched the Super Sponsor Scheme, which is part of the Homes for Ukraine Scheme, and is designed to help displaced people from Ukraine apply for visas by removing the need for applicants to be matched to a host prior to being given permission travel to the UK.

At present, new applications naming the Scottish Government as the sponsor are paused but all existing visa holders can travel and be supported as planned. Now the Scottish Government are running a new campaign to recruit potential hosts specifically in Scotland.

Could you help?

• Scotland continues to stand with Ukraine and is offering a place of sanctuary to those who need it.
• If you are able to, you can help a person or family fleeing the war in Ukraine by providing accommodation for six to twelve months.
• You are able to claim optional 'thank you' payments ranging from £350-£500 for up to two years.
• The amount of payment is linked to the guest and the length of time they have been in the UK.
• Each experience of hosting someone from Ukraine is different. Help and support is available to you.

More information and to apply

If you think you can help and become a host - visit www.mygov.scot/offer-a-home to find out more information and to apply. It includes details on the checks that take place to ensure the safety of everyone involved.

1 February - We did it again : over 30,000 served a day!

For the second consecutive year, we have been awarded the 'Food for Life Served Here' Bronze award for our efforts in serving up fresh, local and sustainable school meals to pupils across our 130 primary schools and seven ASN schools.

The 'Food for Life Served Here' award is a nationally recognised mark of food quality for meals served up in schools accredited by Soil Association Scotland.

The Bronze level award certifies that Glasgow's school meals are free from trans fats, sweeteners and additives, and use free range eggs, higher welfare meat and ingredients from sustainable and ethical sources.

At least 75% of dishes served up to pupils across the city are freshly prepared from unprocessed and seasonal ingredients from local suppliers like McLays. The award also recognises Glasgow for providing pupils with the opportunity to participate in cooking and food growing activities. 

Stephen Sawers, Head of Catering Facilities Management was overjoyed at the renewal of the award. He said: "Every day our hard-working staff provide healthy and nutritious food and this award is further recognition of the standard of their work across School settings. Well done to everyone who is involved."

Funded by the Scottish Government, the Food for Life Scotland programme aims to make good food the easy choice for everyone, emphasising the power of public food to have a positive impact on health, the environment and the local economy. The programme supports local authorities across the country to serve up healthier meals which are better for the environment and benefit the local economy and wider community.

Glasgow's well-established partnership with Soil Association Scotland - through the Food for Life initiative - was recently recognised at the 2022 Scottish School Food Awards with the Healthy Living Innovation Award which celebrated their achievements in encouraging pupils to eat more healthily.

Sarah Duley, Head of Food, Soil Association Scotland, said "Congratulations to Glasgow City Council for achieving their Food for Life Served Here Award for a second year."

"Achieving and maintaining the award means every primary school in Scotland's biggest city is serving food that's good for pupils' health, good for the environment and good for the local economy. With 34,000 Food for Life meals being served daily in Glasgow, this is having a huge impact. We would like to thank catering teams across the city for the determination and care they put into their work every single day, particularly within the context of the cost-of-living crisis."   

Read more on our website here

1 February - Launch Delayed: Buying IT Equipment through My IT

Please note that the launch of buying IT equipment, which was due to start on 31 January as previously communicated in a Managers' Briefing, has been delayed.  This is due to a minor process issue which is currently being worked on. You can continue to place orders using the existing process until further notice.  Look out for a further update in the Staff News as to when the change to buying IT equipment through My IT will begin.

1 February - Watch our GB riders in action: live physical final in Glasgow this month

2023 UCI Cycling Esports World Championships return to Glasgow hosting a live, 'In real life' final for the first time.

The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and Zwift along with partners EventScotland, Glasgow Life and the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, are delighted to announce that Glasgow will play host to athletes from British Cycling as they vie for the chance to win the UCI Cycling Esports World Champion's Jersey on Saturday 18 February at the 2023 UCI Cycling Esports World Championships 'In Real Life' (IRL) Final.

Kicking off from 4.30pm (doors open) with racing due to start from 6pm, audience members will have the chance to watch ten British Cycling athletes (5 men/ 5 women) take part in the 2023 UCI Cycling Esports World Championships, bridging the gap between the real-world physical efforts of the riders and the virtual race.

Ticket Prices:

Standard Ticket - £30.00

Concession Ticket (Age 14-16) - £25.00

Event Timings:

4.30pm - Doors Open

6.00pm - Racing Begins

9.30pm - Racing Expected to End

Location

The Engine Works 23-25 Lochburn Road Glasgow G20 9AE

Book your ticket at 2023 UCI Cycling Esports World Championships Physical Final Tickets, Sat 18 Feb 2023 at 16:30 | Eventbrite

More info at https://www.cyclingworldchamps.com/get-involved/2023-uci-cycling-esports-world-championships-physical-final/

1 February - New Xerox Printers : top tips to get started 

There are new Xerox Printers in the city centre campus - you may have already started using them.

These printers still have the same benefits as before such as staff being able to login and retrieve printing from any council device. However, in addition to this you can now use your council ID badge to login to the printer as well as your network login.

Read our getting started top tips guide for staff here.

1 February - Glasgow community projects secure funding

The council has accepted an award of over £3.2 million for 11 community projects across the city from the Scottish Government's Place Fund.

The Place Fund is a Scottish Government capital fund for local authorities to allocate - working collaboratively with local communities, businesses and the third sector - to develop projects that support shared local plans and aspirations under a variety of themes.

These themes include: 20-minute neighbourhoods; town centre regeneration; community-led regeneration and community wealth building; achieving net zero; food inclusion; and well-being and inclusive economic development.

The latest funding will support 11 projects in Glasgow, including The Braes Shopping Centre in Castlemilk, Bridgeton Library and the North West Community Pantry Allotment Development.

As Ewan Curtis, Group Manager, City Regeneration in NRS explains: "The Place Fund allocation is a crucial part of the regeneration of the city and allows both the council and third sector organisations to deliver small but meaningful interventions around the city - improving infrastructure and public realm, increasing access to affordable food, and contributing to greenspace and sustainability. The projects it supports make a direct difference to people's lives and communities."

For a list of all projects included click here.