A NEW two year pilot will provide specialist business support to small and medium sized businesses in the city's care sector.

The scheme, which is being funded through the £1.1billion City Deal, will help firms with fewer than 250 employees to become more resilient and ensure staff have the skills businesses need to be competitive.

It will use those skills to drive productivity and growth and position the care sector as a viable career choice.

Through a dedicated business advisor, firms will be able to access advice and a range of ways to help them develop and grow.

The advisor will continue to support and advise the employer for the duration of the project.

City council leader Frank McAveety, who is chairman of the City Deal cabinet, said: "Growth in the care sector is inevitable due to demographic changes in our population.

"We want to support the sector to enable them to meet these challenges and ensure it can play a key role in the city's economic future.

"This is yet another Glasgow City Deal project that will create employment and growth opportunities in the decades to come."

The pilot has been developed following consultation with care sector employers and a range of stakeholders.

It will only operate in Glasgow but will provide useful information to the seven other local authorities in the West of Scotland who are part of the City Deal.

Chris Thompson, chairman of South Lanarkshire's enterprise committee, said: "Two of the main aims of the City Deal are to develop projects which will improve the lives of our residents and to make sure these projects boost employment and skills for local people.

"The project not only does both of those things, it will also significantly strengthen the care sector across the City Deal region which will have huge benefits for the growing number of people who will come to depend on it."

The pilot will be launched before the end of the year and will focus on increasing productivity and tackling inequality.

It is hoped it will result in increased job satisfaction for employees, training, development and flexible working and potential wage rises.