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Business and Council Unite for Challenge Poverty Week

Andrew Caldwell, Director at J&D Pierce, talking to a staff member, the Challenge Poverty Week logo and a man welding

A family-run business in the Garnock Valley has pledged its support for Challenge Poverty Week 2025 and is calling on employers across Ayrshire to continue investing in local communities.

North Ayrshire Council is also proudly backing the initiative once again, demonstrating its ongoing commitment to supporting residents through challenging times.

Challenge Poverty Week (October 6 to 12) highlights the reality of poverty and explores practical ways to improve life for people who are struggling to make ends meet.

Organised by The Poverty Alliance, the week of events and awareness-raising activities encourages communities to come together, support one another and inspire positive change in attitudes towards poverty.

This marks the tenth consecutive year the Council has demonstrated its support, with this year’s activities focusing on the following themes:

  • Social security – building a foundation for a better life
  • Better jobs, pay, hours, conditions and worker voice
  • Better investment in life’s essentials
  • Better investment in our communities and
  • Warm homes, green travel and safe climate with time for reflection on Saturday and Sunday.

J&D Pierce, a structural steelwork contractor based in Glengarnock, is a Living Wage employer.

For the past 20 years, the company has recruited new apprentices and provided training to equip these apprentices with the skills needed for a career in the business.

Quote: We pay the Living Wage as a minimum, and this helps us to recruit and – more importantly – retain staff. Our training academy was set up 20 years ago. Through this, we bring in entry-level labourers and many of them want to progress within the business. So, we put them on a six-month training scheme, where they are mentored by time-served welders and fabricators, and they become either a fully-qualified welder or plater. This gives people a chance to further their career and earn a better wage.

Quote from: Andrew Caldwell, Director at J&D Pierce

Between eight and ten apprentices are recruited every year, and the firm currently has in the region of 52 apprentices across the business.

Funding support from the Council over the years has helped the company to train local apprentices and other staff.

“It is very important for us, as a business, to reduce poverty locally. Hopefully, other companies within the Ayrshire region would also look at creating opportunities for people who are unemployed. This would dramatically help to reduce the numbers of people living in poverty,” added Mr Caldwell.

Here in North Ayrshire, throughout Challenge Poverty Week, the Council’s social media channels are being used to highlight a range of activities and services.

The Council’s top priorities include reducing child poverty and supporting residents through the ongoing Cost-of-living Crisis.

Quote: I believe that employers across Ayrshire have a responsibility to implement Fair Work principles, to look after their staff and pay them enough to have a decent standard of living. The company’s approach to employing and retaining staff is a great example of the Community Wealth Building economic model. This sees wealth being retained in North Ayrshire thanks to the Council and partners increasing employment and using local produce and resources – and it is at the heart of our continuing drive to improve life for residents. It is vital that responsible local employers, such as J&D Pierce, employ people from their community where possible and help residents get back to work and gain new skills.

Quote from: Councillor Marie Burns, Leader of North Ayrshire Council

Existing financial support available through the Council includes: Crisis and Community Care Grants; free school meals and clothing grants; Council Tax reduction and Discretionary Housing Payment.

If you – or someone you know - needs help with Cost-of-Living support, please visit the Council’s dedicated webpage.

To find out more about the work of the Poverty Alliance, go online to the charity's website.

Follow the Council’s social media channels, using #ChallengePoverty and #CPW25, to find out more.

Published: 08 October 2025

Wellbeing
Wellbeing
Garnock Valley
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