The Employment CONNECT partnership operates throughout Aberdeenshire ensuring job seekers coming through the pipeline are trained to a basic standard suitable for your business sector, are work ready or are currently receiving training and assistance to get them to that stage.
EC partners will ensure they are ready for interview, have an up-to-date CV and know how to interact with the interview process.
There may be funding we can help with and this is listed below, subject to change as criteria and packages change or end.
Our Vision
Our vision is to provide a joined up approach to providing a range of employment services and opportunities for vulnerable and disadvantaged groups and individuals living in both urban and rural areas. To enable individuals to enter, sustain and progress in the labour market.
We aim to:
- Reduce the number of individuals and families reliant on welfare benefits;
- Join up services and work smarter together to reduce duplication and maximise impact of services;
- Help enable individuals to progress, stay or move on in employment;
- Reduce the barriers to sustained employment;
- Align funding to target strategic priorities;
- Link opportunity and need.
Employability is defined as a set of achievements: skills, understandings and personal attributes – that make individuals more likely to gain employment and be successful in their chosen occupations.
Employability skills are essential and transferable to a variety of situations and are necessary for an individual to function in the 21st century workplace.
How do we plan to achieve this?
- Support the further development of client focussed services which assist people with additional employability needs to enter, sustain and progress in employment;
- Use clear communication between agencies and organisations about the employability and support services available across Aberdeenshire to create a seamless service of provision;
- Establish employer engagement process to ensure service providers have access to labour market information to customise their services to meet local market need;
- Involve people on unemployment and health related benefits in the process of developing the services they require to move into learning, training or employment;
- Ensure Employment CONNECT annually reviews its action plan to meet market demand.
Useful Links
The following items provide an update on the Government’s ‘Job Retention Scheme’. Click on the images below to access the links.
The following links provide useful guidance and information in relation to ‘Fairwork Scotland’.
The Fair work practices in procurement toolkit
Establishing the Carer Positive scheme to encourage flexible, fair and supportive policies to support carers in the workforce
Promoting development of flexible workplaces through continued funding of Family Flexible Working Scotland
The Workplace Equality Fund to deliver employer-led innovative solutions to overcome workforce inequality
We use the Scottish Government’s Employability Pipeline as our core reference point and it is useful for employers and partners to be familiar with the various stages and requirements.
Scottish Government Employability Pipeline
Support for Employers
Support that is available for employers from the Aberdeenshire Employability Partnership
| Organisation | Support available |
|---|---|
Aberdeenshire Council – Employability Service | FUNDING Access to work funding to help more disabled people start of stay in work, can provide support for adaptations that are beyond reasonable adjustments. |
Aberdeenshire Council - Employability Service | ADVICE Support for disability issues, job retention where disability/long term health conditions or substance misuse is involved. |
Skills Development Scotland – Employer Engagement. | ADVICE Provide support and advice on skills, talent development and funding. |
0300 200 3200 | ADVICE General employer advice – pay, pensions, National Insurance, PAYE. |
DWP Recruitment Advice & Support Aberdeen Ebury House Jobcentre Banff Jobcentre Fraserburgh Jobcentre Peterhead Jobcentre 0800 169 0190 | ADVICE Support to fill your vacancies. |
Aberdeenshire Council Recruitment Support | ADVICE Support to fill your vacancies. |
ADVICE Supporting Aberdeenshire Businesses through any period of change resulting from the Referendum. | |
Business Gateway. 0300 013 4753 | ADVICE Advice and support at any stage of business. |
Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE). 0800 917 8000 | ADVICE To minimise the impact for people and businesses facing redundancy. |
Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS). 0300 123 1100 | ADVICE Advice on good practice in employment and employment relations. |
Princes Trust Youth Business Trust. 0800 842 842 | FUNDING Provides pre-start up grants to young people for market research |
Scottish Enterprise Business Grants. 0300 013 3385 | FUNDING A wide range of grants available to start a new business or to expand an existing business. |
Big Issue Invest – UK. | FUNDING Helps social enterprises and charities by providing loans and investments. From £20,000 - £3,000,000 |
Better Broadband Subsidy Scheme. 0207 211 6468 | FUNDING Subsidised broadband installation for businesses that can’t access an affordable broadband service with a speed of at least 2MB per second. |
Internet Service Providers. Your own internet service provider who will apply for the voucher on your behalf | FUNDING Connection Voucher Scheme. Allows businesses to access affordable ultra-fast broadband services. Vouchers up to £3000. |
Aberdeenshire Council | FUNDING Community Led Local Development. |
Start Up Loans. 0344 264 2600 | FUNDING Personal loan from the Government backed Start-up Loan Company |
Aberdeenshire Council | FUNDING Business Loans Scotland. Up to £100,000 to new and growing, small and medium sized businesses. |
Aberdeenshire Council | FUNDING Rural Shop Support Scheme. Grant assistance of up to £7500 or 50% of costs, to help development of rural retail outlets, which provide small communities with general stores and / or post office facilities. |
Aberdeenshire Council | FUNDING AND BUSINESS SUPPORT & ADVICE Social Enterprise Support Fund. Grants to help with the development and creation of social enterprises. |
Aberdeeenshire Council | FUNDING First Employee Grant Scheme. £1000 to help your company with the cost of a first employee. |
Aberdeenshire Council | FUNDING Support for Aberdeenshire Business Scheme. Practical business advice and discretionary financial assistance, in the forms of loans and grants, to both new and existing businesses throughout Aberdeenshire. |
Skills Development Scotland (Tel 0800 783 6000) | FUNDING Apprenticeships [Foundation, Modern, Graduate] Help employers to develop their workforce by training new staff, and upskilling existing employees. Individuals earn a wage and gain an industry-recognised qualification. https://www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/what-we-do/apprenticeships/modern-apprenticeships/ |
Aberdeenshire Council | FUNDING Aberdeenshire Training Allowance Up to £4000 to employ a 16-29 year old who meets the criteria |
