Employers want to recruit, retain and develop staff who have the right skills for their business needs, but many of the people who may have the right skills to fill a vacancy face a barrier to employment due to a disability, their gender, race or being care experienced.
Below, you will find tables with include details of the financial, support and training provision that is available in Orkney for employers to access to help them recruit and retain individuals who face a barrier to employment. You will also find links to website which will provide more information, and contact details for individuals who will be able to provide you with more further support.
Below, you will find tables with include details of the financial, support and training provision that is available in Orkney for employers to access to help them recruit and retain individuals who face a barrier to employment. You will also find links to website which will provide more information, and contact details for individuals who will be able to provide you with more further support.
Financial Provision
The following programmes offer grants or financial support to employers to help them n creating an inclusive and diverse workforce.
ACCESS TO WORK
Provided by the Department of Work and Pensions, Access to Work is a publicly funded employment support grant scheme that aims to support disabled people start or stay in work. It can provide practical and financial support for people who have a disability or long term physical or mental health condition. Support can be provided where someone needs support or adaptions beyond reasonable adjustments.
Access to Work applications must be made by the individual, but an Access to Work grant can pay for practical support to enable your employee to start or stay in work, or to support you if you are self-employed.
For more information, email Paul Gray at the Orkney Job Centre on paul.r.gray@dwp.gov.uk or call (01856) 885 320.
Access to Work applications must be made by the individual, but an Access to Work grant can pay for practical support to enable your employee to start or stay in work, or to support you if you are self-employed.
For more information, email Paul Gray at the Orkney Job Centre on paul.r.gray@dwp.gov.uk or call (01856) 885 320.
Community Jobs Scotland
Provided by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), this employability programme works with voluntary sector employers to create job opportunities for unemployed people aged 16 to 29 years. The programme focuses on those more disadvantaged in the labour market, those who are care experienced or are carers themselves, those with criminal convictions and those who have disabilities or other health issues.
Eligible employers will receive funding for each completed CJS contract. A fund of up to £5,000 will help to cover the employee wage, NI and pension contributions, support and supervision, induction and on-the-job training
More information can be found at www.scvo.scot
Eligible employers will receive funding for each completed CJS contract. A fund of up to £5,000 will help to cover the employee wage, NI and pension contributions, support and supervision, induction and on-the-job training
More information can be found at www.scvo.scot
Employer Recruitment Incentive
Administered by Orkney Islands Council, Employer Recruitment Incentive (ERI) funding supports those furthest away from employment. The scheme will pay 50% of the individual’s salary costs for 52 weeks.
Employers from all sectors are eligible for ERI and there is no restriction on the size of employer, but an emphasis should be given to private SMEs and third sector organisations (including social enterprises).
More information can be found on the OIC's website, here. You can also contact Lindsey Johnson, Community Learning and Development Officer, on Lindsey.Johnson@orkney.gov.uk or call (01856) 873 535.
Employers from all sectors are eligible for ERI and there is no restriction on the size of employer, but an emphasis should be given to private SMEs and third sector organisations (including social enterprises).
More information can be found on the OIC's website, here. You can also contact Lindsey Johnson, Community Learning and Development Officer, on Lindsey.Johnson@orkney.gov.uk or call (01856) 873 535.
Kickstart Scheme
Delivered by the Department of Work and Pensions, the Kickstart Scheme provides funding to support young people into employment and help grow businesses.
This funding is available to employers of all sizes, from all sectors and it covers 100% of the National Minimum Wage for 25 hours per week for a total of six months. Employers will also receive £1,500 for every person they employ through Kickstart.
All jobs created for the Kickstart Scheme must be new jobs and all job placements must start prior to 31 December 2021.
Employers can apply to join the Kickstart scheme individually, or through the local gateway organisation.
ASPIRE Orkney are the Kickstart gateway organisation, collating placement offers from local employers. If you wish to apply through the gateway organisation, visit ASPIRE Orkney, here.
If you would like to apply individually, you can do so here.
For more information, contact Paul Gray at the Orkney Job Centre on paul.r.gray@dwp.gov.uk or call (01856) 885 320.
This funding is available to employers of all sizes, from all sectors and it covers 100% of the National Minimum Wage for 25 hours per week for a total of six months. Employers will also receive £1,500 for every person they employ through Kickstart.
All jobs created for the Kickstart Scheme must be new jobs and all job placements must start prior to 31 December 2021.
Employers can apply to join the Kickstart scheme individually, or through the local gateway organisation.
ASPIRE Orkney are the Kickstart gateway organisation, collating placement offers from local employers. If you wish to apply through the gateway organisation, visit ASPIRE Orkney, here.
If you would like to apply individually, you can do so here.
For more information, contact Paul Gray at the Orkney Job Centre on paul.r.gray@dwp.gov.uk or call (01856) 885 320.
Support and Training
These programmes provide training, in-work support or advice to employers to support them in creating an inclusive and diverse workforce.
Apprenticeship Equality Team
This team from Skills Development Scotland (SDS) can provide advice and support to employers to support them in recruiting individuals who face a barrier to employment due to disability, care-experience, gender or race.
For more information and guidance, visit Skills Development Scotland, here. You can also contact Michelle Goldenpenny, SDS Equality Executive for North of Scotland, on Michelle.Goldenpenny@sds.co.uk or call (0131) 316 3252.
For more information and guidance, visit Skills Development Scotland, here. You can also contact Michelle Goldenpenny, SDS Equality Executive for North of Scotland, on Michelle.Goldenpenny@sds.co.uk or call (0131) 316 3252.
Community Learning and Development Employability Support
Orkney Island’s Council’s Community Learning and Development (CLD) Team have a dedicated all age provision to deliver a more flexible and user-based model of employability support for people from school leaving age up to 67 (Pensionable age) who are identified as requiring more support to enter and sustain employment.
In work support for employers and individuals can be provided to promote and support inclusive, fair and sustainable employment opportunities.
For more information, contact Lindsey Johnson, Community Learning and Development Officer, on Lindsey.Johnson@orkney.gov.uk or call (01856) 873 535.
In work support for employers and individuals can be provided to promote and support inclusive, fair and sustainable employment opportunities.
For more information, contact Lindsey Johnson, Community Learning and Development Officer, on Lindsey.Johnson@orkney.gov.uk or call (01856) 873 535.
Disability Confident
Disability Confident is a scheme from the Department of Work and Pensions which supports employers to make the most of the talents disabled people can bring to the workplace by helping employers recruit and retain great people.
For more information on becoming a Disability Confident employer, visit here. You can also contact Paul Gray at the Orkney Job Centre on paul.r.gray@dwp.gov.uk or call (01856) 885 320.
For more information on becoming a Disability Confident employer, visit here. You can also contact Paul Gray at the Orkney Job Centre on paul.r.gray@dwp.gov.uk or call (01856) 885 320.
Disability Employment Gap Public Social Partnership
The Scottish Union of Supported Employment (SUSE) is the lead partner in the Disability Employment Gap Public Social Partnership (PSP).
The Disability Employment Gap PSP is focused on working with Scotland’s employers to help them address gaps in their knowledge and expertise to improve the employment prospects of disabled people. They work with businesses to help them develop their organisation and staff. They do this through support sessions and training courses.
For more information, visit: www.suse.org.uk. You can also contact David Stewart, Project Manager, by emailing David.Stewart@susescotland.scot, or call him on 07305 064 282.
The Disability Employment Gap PSP is focused on working with Scotland’s employers to help them address gaps in their knowledge and expertise to improve the employment prospects of disabled people. They work with businesses to help them develop their organisation and staff. They do this through support sessions and training courses.
For more information, visit: www.suse.org.uk. You can also contact David Stewart, Project Manager, by emailing David.Stewart@susescotland.scot, or call him on 07305 064 282.
Fair Start Scotland
Fair Start Scotland is an employment support service that helps people with a barrier to employment find work. They also provide in‑work support for up to 12 months after an individual starts to work.
More information here: https://www.mygov.scot/help-find-job/
In Orkney, Fair Start Scotland is administered by Triage and for more information you can contact Louise Mowatt on LouiseM@triagecentral.co.uk, or Craig Steven, Programme Manager, on CraigS@triagecentral.co.uk
More information here: https://www.mygov.scot/help-find-job/
In Orkney, Fair Start Scotland is administered by Triage and for more information you can contact Louise Mowatt on LouiseM@triagecentral.co.uk, or Craig Steven, Programme Manager, on CraigS@triagecentral.co.uk
Orkney Employment Support
Orkney Health and Care’s Employment Support Team supports people with learning disabilities and autistic people to gain and maintain employment.
They can take referrals from employers to work with individuals who need support in the workplace and can provide on-the-job support, working side by side with people to help them learn new tasks or understand workplace requirements.
You can find more information here. You can also contact the team at the details below:
Danny Oliver - Danny.Oliver@orkney.gov.uk, or call 07342 064 818
Stuart Prestwell - Stuart.Prestwell@orkney.gov.uk, or call 07760 414 279
They can take referrals from employers to work with individuals who need support in the workplace and can provide on-the-job support, working side by side with people to help them learn new tasks or understand workplace requirements.
You can find more information here. You can also contact the team at the details below:
Danny Oliver - Danny.Oliver@orkney.gov.uk, or call 07342 064 818
Stuart Prestwell - Stuart.Prestwell@orkney.gov.uk, or call 07760 414 279
Parental Employability Support Fund
Orkney Island Council’s Community Learning and Development team have received funding from Scottish Government to support lower income parents access information, advice, and opportunities to enable them access or progress in employment with the overarching target to increase household income and reduce child poverty.
A dedicated Parent Employability Keyworker will work with individuals both in and out of work offering intensive one-to-one or group work support.
In work support such as mentoring/job coaching will be offered to support individuals to maintain and progress within employment.
The team will also work proactively with local employers to promote and develop accessible, fair and progressive employment opportunities for parents.
For more information, email Lindsey Johnson, Community Learning and Development Officer, Lindsey.Johnson@orkney.gov.uk, or call (01856) 873 535.
A dedicated Parent Employability Keyworker will work with individuals both in and out of work offering intensive one-to-one or group work support.
In work support such as mentoring/job coaching will be offered to support individuals to maintain and progress within employment.
The team will also work proactively with local employers to promote and develop accessible, fair and progressive employment opportunities for parents.
For more information, email Lindsey Johnson, Community Learning and Development Officer, Lindsey.Johnson@orkney.gov.uk, or call (01856) 873 535.
Remploy
Remploy are the UKs leading disability specialist, transforming lives through sustainable employment.
Remploy provide a range of disability related resources including free guides, awareness factsheets and webinars to help employers learn more and increase their disability confidence. For more information, visit: www.remploy.co.uk
Remploy provide a range of disability related resources including free guides, awareness factsheets and webinars to help employers learn more and increase their disability confidence. For more information, visit: www.remploy.co.uk
Young Person's Guarantee
The Young Person’s Guarantee is a Scottish Government initiative which offers all young people the opportunity of an apprenticeship; fair employment including work experience; participation in a formal volunteering programme; training or going to university or college. It is supported by various partners including Developing the Young Workforce Orkney, Skills Development Scotland and Orkney Islands Council.
Employers can engage with the Young Person’s Guarantee by supporting the five asks of employers. You can find out more about the initiative and the five employer asks here. For more information, contact Rachel Scarth, Project Manager of Developing the Young Workforce Orkney on Rachel.Scarth@uhi.ac.uk, or call (01856) 569 352.
Employers can engage with the Young Person’s Guarantee by supporting the five asks of employers. You can find out more about the initiative and the five employer asks here. For more information, contact Rachel Scarth, Project Manager of Developing the Young Workforce Orkney on Rachel.Scarth@uhi.ac.uk, or call (01856) 569 352.