The Wise Group has been successful in the procurement of two of the four regions for the new Work Able Scotland employability programme. This is the initial one-year programme that will be the transition from the UK government Work Programme to a new Scottish approach to delivering employment support services.
Work Able Scotland is due to start on 1 April 2017 and aims to support customers into sustainable jobs through high quality employment support services delivered locally. It will be aimed at ESA and Universal Credit claimants who want to work and cannot be supported through other Job Centre Plus or DWP provision.
It is a voluntary programme and will be managed by Skills Development Scotland. Customers will work with coaches to develop individual action plans tailored to meet their needs. They will work with the same coach throughout their time on the programme and will be able to access support that will encourage them to find employment and to stay in work.
The Wise Group has set up a partnership of 21 third sector organisations, who will deliver end to end support and specialist services for up to 847 people across Forth Valley, Fife and Tayside, and, Glasgow, Lanarkshire and East Dunbartonshire. Eight end to end partners will provide coaching in specific geographical locations. Thirteen specialist support partners will provide specialist support for customers through appropriate local provision.
There will be a focus on working with local employers to source good quality job opportunities for customers and help employers find hidden talent among local people that are currently not in the labour market.
Laurie Russell, Chief Executive of the Wise Group, said:
“The Wise Group is delighted to be working with the Scottish Government and Skills Development Scotland to help deliver the new Scottish approach to supporting people into and sustaining work. We have set up a consortium of third sector organisations that have a proven track record of success in matching the skills and talents of people with the needs of local employers.”
“We are combining proven methods of support with innovative ways of working so that we can reach those people who are most in need of support.”
