Development Officers, Employability, Economic Development, Glasgow City Council
Unemployment is at historically low levels in Scotland, yet there are still too many people who struggle to find and keep a job. This can include individuals with criminal convictions and those finishing custodial or community sentences. This affects not only those individuals, but also their families, communities, and the wider economy of the city.
In 2022 Glasgow launched its new Economic Strategy (2022-30). At the heart of the strategy is inclusive growth, which focuses on creating opportunities for all citizens. This means generating new pathways to develop skills and access fair work, a priority that has never been more important. This priority cannot be overstated as we continue to weather the impact of a cost-of-living crisis that is weakening the fabric of our city.
The Economic Strategy outlines a roadmap for a holistic, all age employability structure that is based on individual need and is aligned with the national No One Left Behind strategy. It also demonstrates a commitment to continuously improving the performance and impact of services through the creation of a quality standard for employability services in Glasgow.
Glasgow’s Local Employability Partnership (LEP) sets the strategic direction for employability priorities. Through its leadership and governance, the city focuses on tackling unemployment and improving outcomes for all, particularly those facing multiple barriers to employment. This means collaborating to identify local needs and by making informed, evidence-based decisions that meet emerging local labour demands. The LEP’s Delivery Plan provides the framework for taking this forward.
https://invest-glasgow.foleon.com/employability/lep-newsletter-march2024-copy/
The success of employability services is due to the dedication of a rich network of providers who give us invaluable advice and feedback, and input to the LEP, including those from the justice system. Through the year there continued to be links between the LEP and partners within the justice system, significantly supported through our own ties to the Glasgow Community Justice Partnership and its network of Learning, Skills and Employability partners.
The success of employability services also depends on accurate data about the city’s population, including criminal justice, mental health, addictions and homelessness. The infographic to the left highlights the number of people with Criminal Convictions registered with projects over 2023-2024, with breakdowns showing characteristics and outcomes.
Following an extensive procurement exercise, four bids representing the areas where extra focus is needed were approved by committee in March 2024. The bid to support people affected by homelessness, addictions and involved in the justice system was won by Way Ahead. With the Wheatley Group as lead partner, and partners Apex, Scottish Action for Mental Health, Move On and Street Soccer, the service reflects a joined up partnership approach aligning with the Choiceworks programme.
The Council’s Centre for Civic Innovation (CCI) has concluded the first part of the service design process with employability providers, participants, and employers considering how services can join up to improve the outcomes for our service participants. Over the past year, using Scottish Approach to Service Design methods, the CCI has carried out extensive research in the form of surveys, interviews and workshops involving a cross section of services and participants including people with disabilities, neurodiversity, asylum seekers, those involved in the criminal justice system, as well as the LEP Board and GCC’s Employability team.
This has culminated in fourteen opportunities for development being identified. These in turn have been grouped into five themes under two higher categories of ‘Working Together’ and ‘Building Knowledge.’ Steps are underway to deliver these opportunities. CCI will continue to support the design and development of solutions using a similar co design process, again involving participants, service providers and employers.
See the CCI’s Employability Redesign Executive Summary for details.
In June 2024 the LEP adopted a new identity – Glasgow Futures. During the latter months of 2023 and into 2024 an external agency worked with participants and service providers, including those within Community Justice, to develop the Glasgow Futures brand.
Social media will be used to inform projects, employers, participants and citizens of employability updates.
An event was held on 18 June 2024 to launch the brand, celebrate past successes and look forward to addressing challenges. This event consisted of speakers, stalls, workshops and lived experience stories. Participants and key workers from Criminal Justice projects attended and described their experiences, successes, and challenges, which highlighted what worked well and what changes could be made to employability services.
In the second half of 2024, the LEP aims to formalise its relationship with the Community Planning Partnership to ensure that they work closely together.
It is possible to track the LEP’s continued development and impact through the LEP Newsletters:
Contact: employability@glasgow.gov.uk
@GlasgowFutures
/GlaFutures
www.glasgowfutures.org.uk