Brechin jobseekers are to be offered advice on how to find employment, improve their skills or retrain.
The offer comes as Brechin was again confirmed as having the highest unemployment levels in Angus. Its unemployment rate of 8.5% compares to the county average of 3.4% and almost matches the rate for the whole of Scotland which, at 8.6%, is now almost a whole percentage point higher than the UK.
The Brechin figure is an increase on depressing figures issued just three months ago, which had not taken into account the closure of Kelman Engineering, with the loss of 35 jobs, and a further 11 jobs lost following the mothballing of the Matheson Jess abattoir.
Brechin has also felt the effects of downscaling in the oil industry in Aberdeen and has the same countrywide problems of the longer-term unemployed who can have multiple barriers to employment.
As a response to these difficulties, the Angus Employability Partnership has arranged for a number of agencies to take part in an event on Thursday, October 28, from 10am to 2pm.
Local people are invited to drop in to the learning centre at Brechin High School, Duke Street, for information, advice or an informal chat.
The Towards Employment Team and Helm will be available to offer advice on possible training grants and Angus Council business advisers can provide information on becoming self-employed.
Skills Development Scotland and DEAP (Dundee Employment and Aftercare Project) will be on hand for more general careers and CV advice, with the Volunteer Centre Angus, Angus College and JobCentre Plus also available to advise on their wide range of services.
Welfare rights advice will be available while Hillcrest Housing and mental health charity Augment will also be in attendance.