3 - DFN Project SEARCH Renfrewshire Update - August 2025 - AM reviewed
Renfrewshire Council · 26 August 2025
Back to Economy and Regeneration Policy Board — 26 August 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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___________________________________________________________________ To: Economy and Regeneration Board On: 26 August 2025 ___________________________________________________________________ Report by: Chief Executive ___________________________________________________________________ Heading: DFN Project SEARCH Renfrewshire - Annual Update ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Summary 1.1 Invest in Renfrewshire, working in partnership with Glasgow Clyde College, has successfully delivered DFN Project SEARCH Renfrewshire since 2015. 1.2 DFN Project SEARCH Renfrewshire supports around 12 interns each year, each of whom has a learning disability, autism spectrum condition or both. Interns are provided with intensive work experience, as well as academic and employability support, to move towards a job outcome. 1.3 This report updates on progress for the 2024 / 25 programme and confirms continued delivery of the programme into 2025 / 26. 2. Recommendations 2.1 It is recommended that the Board: a) Note the content of this report and continuation of programme delivery into 2025/26. 3. Background: 3.1 DFN Project SEARCH has been delivered in partnership by Invest in Renfrewshire and Glasgow Clyde College since 2015 and has, to date, supported 100 Renfrewshire residents across ten cohorts.
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3.2 DFN Project SEARCH Renfrewshire is a business-led, one-year transition to employment programme for young people aged 17 – 29, who have been diagnosed with a learning disability, an autism spectrum condition or both. 3.3 Up to 12 students, who are referred to as interns, are selected each year. Interns participate for 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday - 08:30 to 15:30. They split their time between a classroom-based environment, which has been created within Renfrewshire House, and on work placement within Renfrewshire Council and with local businesses. 3.4 Each intern completes 3 different work placements or ‘rotations’ during the academic year. These are generally for 20 hours per week and 10 weeks per rotation. Collectively the rotations provide each intern with up to 600 hours of work experience. These work rotations provide interns with opportunities to gain a wide range of new and transferable skills, different aspects of occupational experience and to showcase their attributes and abilities to prospective employers. 3.5 Interns also receive lecturer support and work towards achievement of SQA qualifications and job-related certifications such as Manual Handling and Elementary First Aid at Work, which assist them whilst in placement. Our supported employment job coaches provide guidance and assistance to undertake job task requirements and with employability support such as CV writing, interview techniques and job searching. 3.6 All aspects of programme delivery allow us to agree individual employment aspirations with the interns and to support them towards securing ongoing suitable employment the end of the programme. If suitable employment has not been secured on completion of the programme, participants will continue to receive up to one year of throughcare employability support to help them progress onto employment. 3.7 Employment rates in Scotland are estimated at 4% - 8% for people with learning disabilities and 29% for autistic people (Source: Scottish Government) and so DFN Project Search contributes significantly to the outcomes of young people participating in the programme. ___________________________________________________________________ 4. DFN Project SEARCH Renfrewshire Delivery 2024 / 25 4.1 Ten interns started our tenth cohort in August 2024 with 1 intern unfortunately leaving during the programme year, due to a road traffic accident. The intern has been offered the opportunity to return to the programme, should they wish, once their rehabilitation is complete. 4.2 The remaining interns completed work rotations across a variety of roles including catering, cleaning, clerical and administration, customer services, and leisure services. 4.3 Nine interns successfully graduated in June 2025 with each achieving all college academic requirements. The graduates also successfully gained certifications in: Food Hygiene, First Aid, Manual Handling, Health and Safety at Work and Customer Care.
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4.4 Seven graduates have successfully gained employment including six who have gained roles within Renfrewshire Council (1 within the Councils Modern Apprenticeship Programme and 5 within our Soft FM team). Job outcome rate for 2024 / 25 is 70%. 4.5 A further graduate has also secured a higher level college place. Overall positive destination rate is 80%. 4.6 In total, 62 graduates (62%), across ten Renfrewshire cohorts since 2015, have progressed to a positive job outcome. ___________________________________________________________________ 5. DFN Project SEARCH Renfrewshire Delivery 2025 / 26 5.1 Delivery for 2024 / 25 has been confirmed for the year ahead. 5.2 The recruitment process has been completed with offers having been made to, and accepted by, 12 young Renfrewshire residents to participate in this years cohort. 5.3 Discussions are ongoing with both internal service managers and external businesses with the aim to agree a wide and varied range of work rotation placements, which will meet the work aspirations of this year’s interns. ___________________________________________________________________ 6. 10th Year Anniversary 6.1 DFN Project SEARCH Renfrewshire achieved its’ 10th Year Anniversary during the 2024 / 25 session. 6.2 This significant milestone was marked across 2024 / 25 delivery including: • Production of a short celebration video, charting the 10 years of success in Renfrewshire; • Compiling and sharing a series of ‘Where are they Now’ Case Studies, which highlighted the progression of ex-Graduates; and • Hosting a 10 Year Celebration event which took place on 28 March 2025 at Paisley Town Hall to coincide with National Supported Internship Day. ___________________________________________________________________ 7. Future Reporting 7.1 It is proposed that a further update report(s) be provided to Board at a date(s) to be agreed. _________________________________________________________________ Implications of the Report 1. Financial – No additional finance is sought.
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2. HR & Organisational Development – 2 FTE posts within Economic Development are supported to deliver this programme. 3. Community/Council Planning – None. 4. Legal – None. 5. Property/Assets – None. 6. Information Technology – None. 7. Equality & Human Rights - The Recommendations contained within this report have been assessed in relation to their impact on equalities and human rights. No negative impacts on equality groups or potential for infringement of individuals’ human rights have been identified arising from the recommendations contained in the report. 8. Health & Safety – None. 9. Procurement – None 10. Risk – None. 11. Privacy Impact - None. 12. Climate Risk – Not Applicable. 13. Children’s Rights – None 12. COSLA Policy Position – Not Applicable. _________________________________________________________________ List of Background Papers • DFN Project SEARCH Renfrewshire Update; Economy and Regeneration Board; 27 August 2024 The foregoing background papers will be retained within Chief Executive’s Service for inspection by the public for the prescribed period of four years from the date of the meeting. The contact officer within the service is Michael Moran, Assistant Economic Development Manager michael.moran@renfrewshire.gov.uk ___________________________________________________________________ Chief Executive’s MM 23 July 2025 Author: Michael Moran, Assistant Economic Development Manager Email: michael.moran@renfrewshire.gov.uk