Item 10 - Employability Service Provision Update

West Dunbartonshire Council · 5 February 2025
Back to Infrastructure, Regeneration & Economic Development Committee — 5 February 2025 and its agenda

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WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE COUNCIL
Chief Officer – Roads and Neighbourhood
Infrastructure, Regeneration and Economic Development 5 February 2025
Subject: Employability Service Provision
1. Purpose
1.1 This report provides an update on the progress for the delivery of
employability programmes and is set within the context of ‘No One Left
Behind,’ the Scottish Government’s approach to employability services.
services.
1.2 The report outlines progress and achievements secured through the No-One
Left Behind (2022/25) and provides information about future approach to the
delivery of employability services.
2. Recommendations
2.1 Committee is asked to:
a) Approve the proposed approach for the delivery of employability services
in West Dunbartonshire; and
b) Approve the continuation of a co-commissioned approach incorporating an
Employability Grant Programme that will be delivered through the West
Dunbartonshire Local Employability Partnership as outlined in Section 5.
This will be the primary model for commissioning employability services
from external service providers from 2025 - 2028.
3. Background
3.1 The employability system in Scotland has undergone a transformation with
several Scottish Government funds being shifted to local management under
the leadership of the local authority. This has brought additional employability
funding (‘No One Left Behind’ and ‘Child Poverty (Parental Employability
Support) to West Dunbartonshire with a value in the region of £1.6million
each year.
3.2 This approach is built on collaboration between COSLA/Local Authorities and
the Scottish Government. Their aim is to shape national employability
provision, while providing local authorities with the responsibility for
identifying local priorities and implementing relevant support. In effect, local
authorities taking on the role of lead agency for managing the delivery of
employability services in their area.
3.3 The Scottish Government has stated that this approach should be based on
locally based partnerships with priorities set out in a local three-year
development plan. 
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3.4 In the Council’s 2022/25 plan the council identified an approach to
partnership working and outlined the role of the Local Employability
Partnership and its associated sub-groups. The Local Employability
Partnership (strategic Partners include:
 West Dunbartonshire Council (Working4U – lead).
 West Dunbartonshire Council (Education Services).
 Department Work and Pensions (DWP).
 Skills Development Scotland (SDS).
 Skills Qualification Agency (SQA).
 West College Scotland.
 Golden Jubilee Trust.
 West Dunbartonshire Community Voluntary Service (CVS).
 Tell (Representing Creative Design Group – service users).
 West College Scotland.
 Developing Young Workforce (DYW).
3.5 The sub-groups that support the Strategic Group (strategic Partners) include:
the Creative Design Group (service providers); the Community of Interest
(frontline staff); and the lived experience groups (service users). These
groups have been developed to ensure the council has the relevant input to
service design and service priorities from all key stakeholders with an interest
in delivering and using employability services.
3.6 The plan outlines the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in
West Dunbartonshire and sets this alongside methods for managing the
services and monitoring progress towards the council’s key performance
aims. The aims are to:
 Increase engagement with service users.
 Assist people to identify their employability needs.
 Support access to learning and training.
 Assist residents to secure employment and helping them to progress
within the workplace.
3.7 To gauge progress the service have established a performance monitoring
framework that is managed by Working4U. The information gathered through
our monitoring framework forms the basis of a progress reports that illustrate
our achievements. These reports are also used to inform decisions about
future investment and shape future activity.
3.8 Appendix 1 provides a one-page summary of the Local Employability
Partnership Plan.

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3.9 In summary, the employability agenda changed significantly over the
previous three years through the introduction of No One Left Behind. This
approach is reflected in the council’s Local Employability Partnership Plan
(2022-2025). The service will be reviewing and revising the Local
Employability Plan in 2025 to extend it to 2028 in line with Scottish
Government requirements and guidance.
4. Main Issues
4.1 The Local Employability Partnership has been established and uses the
Scottish Government ‘No One Left Behind Funds’ to co-commission
employability services. These are designed to assist residents to develop
their skills and overcome barriers to opportunity; support them to move
towards and secure fair work; and assist them to remain and progress within
the workplace.
4.2 The council has incorporated the management and delivery of UK Shared
Prosperity Funds (UKSPF) into this partnership approach. UK Shared
Prosperity is the UK Government’s replacement for European Structural
Funds (UKSPF) and focusses on, among other priorities, ‘People and Skills
(employability support). By incorporating the two funds into the partnership
approach the service will ensure Officers maximise the co-ordination of
resources to achieve the aims and clearly demonstrate co-
commissioning/partnership working.
4.3 The Scottish Government has provided approximately £1.6million each year
for the delivery of employability services and this has been complemented
with a further approximate £0.75 million through UK Shared Prosperity for
employability (People and Skills) each year for the last two years.
4.4 The Council has made good progress in developing the employability service
infrastructure. Table 1 provides an indication of the outcomes achieved using
the ‘No One Left Behind/Parental Employability Support’ Funds.
Progress indicator Three year target 21/22 22/23 23/24 total (Nov 24)
Number of people  supported 1,347 499 933 870 2,302
Number of people with an action plan 1,347 499 933 870 2,302
% of people with a disability 20% 8% 33% 48% 30%
Number entered employment 674 308 352 362 1,022
Secured an Modern Apprenticeship 101 41 58 45 144
Employed people accessing in work  support 135 68 79 108 255
Number of people  achieved a  qualification 404 68 205 266 539
Number started work placement 34 not recorded 22 36 58
Number entered FE/HE/Training. 67 26 15 39 80
Number securing formal volunteering opportunity 67 not recorded 53 53 106
4.5 Table 1 demonstrates good progress towards the anticipated No One Left
Behind outcomes and illustrates our increasing focus on supporting those
with greatest barriers to opportunity, including those with a disability, to
overcome barriers to opportunity.
4.6 These outcomes have been secured through a mixed approach to delivery.
This consists of direct delivery of employability services by the council
through Working4U: Working4U provides the foundation of employability

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case management support and specialist training and learning support
services.
4.7 This is complemented, where necessary, with specialist employability
services provided by the Third and Private Sector. An approach that is
consistent with the Scottish Government requirement to work in partnership
and co-commission services.
4.8 To do this the service has established a competitive grant programme to
secure the additional specialist services required. The employability grant
offered uses a proportion of the ‘No One Left Behind’ and ‘UK Shared
Prosperity Funds.’ This is to maximise the benefits from these funds through
a single approach. This way the council secure appropriate expertise;
allocate the activity to the relevant fund for reporting; target the relevant
groups and individuals; and provide services at all stages of the employability
pathway.
4.9 It is proposed that the service continue with this mixed approach for the
delivery of employability services in West Dunbartonshire. The service
anticipate in the forthcoming year that the council will secure:
 £1.65million from the Scottish Government for No One Left
Behind/Parental Employability Support.
 Approximately £1million UK Shared Prosperity Funding.
4.10 As such the service propose to:
 Continue to develop the Local Employability Partnership with Working4U
delivering employability case managed support and access to specialist
barrier removal/employability support.
 Co-commission specialist services, where these are not available in-house,
by using a proportion of the available grant funding. Estimated value of
£0.75million in the forthcoming year.
 Continue this approach for the subsequent years 2026/27 and 2027/28. This
will establish a solid foundation for the development of employability services
and partnership working.
4.11 The council will adopt a sequential approach that maintains Working4U as
the key delivery agency. The values of grant funding made available to Third
and Private Sector providers may vary each year as they are dependent on
the funds that will made available by the Scottish Government and UK
Government for Employability Service Provision.
5. Options Appraisal
5.1 To establish the partnership approach, the service explored a number of
options for the effective distribution of funds. The options included: 
 Establishing a local employability service provider framework.
 Using a national framework for the provision of employability services.

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 Establish a competitive grant approach.
5.2 Drawing on experience gained over the previous three years, the service
have developed a mixed approach.
Local Employability Service Provider Framework
5.3 The council have a Local Employability Service Provider Framework in
place and will draw on this where additional specialist services are required
outwith the context of the grant approach.
National Framework
5.4 A national procurement framework for the commissioning of employability
services has been developed by Scotland Excel.  National procurement
frameworks will be used in instances where gaps in provision have been
identified that are not readily available locally or through the council’s
framework.
Employability Grant Approach
5.5 The Employability Grant approach can be implemented at the discretion of
the local authority and will provide several benefits, this includes:
 Complementing the current methods for procuring/acquiring
employability services, adding flexibility in approach as a result.
 Adding value to the funding and other resources already available.
 Providing a transparent application and assessment process for the
allocation of funds.
 Supporting the aims and objectives outlined Next Steps for the
Integration and Alignment of Employability Support in Scotland.
 Supporting innovation, pilots, new ideas and approaches through a
quicker process than formal procurement of services and timing that
works for local providers.
 Shifting from transactional relationships towards stronger partnership
with providers to develop and deliver services to improve lives and
stimulate opportunities in West Dunbartonshire.
5.6 Taking this into account the service propose the development of a grant
approach that will complement existing methods for acquiring/procuring
employability services.
6. People Implications
6.1 Working4U currently delivers services directly and will continue to do so. The
approach is based on the experience of the council’s role as a ‘lead agency.’
This requires greater levels of grant management, monitoring and evaluation
of external service provision.

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6.2 The service have developed capability to manage the grant application
process and service delivery compliance and will continue to review the
approach, ensuring this meets the requirements for managing grant funding
and providing services.
7. Financial and Procurement Implications
7.1 There are no additional funding requirements being placed on West
Dunbartonshire Council. The employability grant will use funds provided
by the Scottish and UK Governments for employability service provision.
8. Risk Analysis
8.1 The proposed approach has been established to manage several risks. These
include:
 Risk of non-compliance with COSLA/Scottish Government agreement
on approaches to local employability provision. Scottish Government
expects a partnership approach and evidence to demonstrate partner
access to resources; the grant approach addresses this risk.
 Risk of non-compliance because local service providers have limited
access or opportunity to shape service provision. Creation of creative
design group to influence grant priorities addresses the risk.
 Risk that local providers may not obtain access to resources -. A local
grant approach manages the risk and supports local innovation.
9. Equalities Impact Assessment (EIA)
9.1 Equalities legislation requires that new or significantly changing policies or
services and financial decisions should be subject to an assessment of their
impact on the wellbeing of certain groups of people.
9.2 An equality impact assessment has previously been carried out and there is
no change to the factors. Employability service provision provides positive
impacts by focusing service provision on those that would not access
employment and training opportunities without support. An equalities impact
assessment has been carried out and this emphasises the positive impact on
individuals and families facing socio-economic disadvantage. This positive
impact has been brought about by:
 Increased number of services designed to maximise income and
access to training.
 Increased input to service design for those affected by poverty,
disadvantage and unemployment.
9.3 The service will continue to review the equalities impact alongside the
development of the three-year plan (2025 – 2028).
10. Strategic Assessment

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10.1 This development of the local employability partnership will co-ordinate
access to employability skills development and employment opportunities. By
adopting a grant approach to acquiring employability services this will:
 increase access to support,
 manage the number of organisations providing support.
 increase the types of specialist support available across the
employability pipeline.
10.2 As such the proposal has a strong fit with the Council’s strategic
priorities and objectives, in particular:
Our Economy – Strong and Flourishing.
Chief Officer Gail Macfarlane
Service Area Roads and Neighbourhood
Date: 05 February 2025
Person to Contact: Stephen Brooks,
Fleet and Working4U Manager,
Appendices: Appendix 1: Employability One-Page Plan
Background Papers: An equalities impact assessment has been carried out.
Wards Affected: All Council Wards