A ST Mirren legend has urged jobseekers in Renfrewshire to sign up to a new employment service.

Tony Fitzpatrick, the former St Mirren captain and manager who is now the club’s chief executive, yesterday lent his support to Fair Start Scotland.

The programme will be delivered throughout the west of the country by leading social enterprise, the Wise Group, which yesterday launched its delivery of the service in Paisley.

The aim is to help at least 3400 people across Inverclyde, Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire, West and East Dunbartonshire to gain the skills they need to help them move towards work.

Fitzpatrick, who joined Sean Duffy and Viv Sawers of the Wise Group at Paisley Town Hall for the launch, said: “St Mirren is a club that prides itself on being right at the heart of the local community so it is great to see an initiative like this that will really benefit the people of Renfrewshire.

“I hope as many of them as possible sign up to give themselves the best chance of finding work.”

Duffy added: “We want to give job seekers the best chance of getting, and then keeping, real and meaningful employment. We believe Fair Start Scotland gives them the ideal opportunity to do so by focusing on the needs and aspirations of each person.”