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Please click here to view the latest Discover Work newsletter featuring news stories, case studies and other useful employability information.

Discover Work Partnership would like to thank everyone who contributed their stories for this quarter’s newsletter.

A partnership of national and local agencies has organised an event on 01/09/2022 for employees recently made redundant by McGill to meet recruiting employers and access other support:

When: Thursday 1st September, 10am – 3pm

Where: Chamber East, The Chamber Building, Panmure Street, Dundee, DD1 1EP

If you have been effected by these redundancies and would like some help to prepare for the event or a new job (CVs, printing, careers advice, etc.), please drop-in to:

When: Tuesday 30th August & Wednesday 31st August, 10am – 3pm

Where: The Shore, 15 Shore Terrace, Dundee DD1 3DN

OR contact:

Andy Smith – 01382 434079 / [email protected] (25+ years old)

Rachael Thomas – 01382 433034 / [email protected] (16-24 years old)

Discover Work Partnership are pleased to open referrals for our upcoming sector-based academy in partnership with Discovery Flexibles.

What is it? This 6 week sector-based training is designed to give participants the skills and knowledge they need to secure and maintain a job in manufacturing. This includes industry specific practical training, financial capability support and a 4 day work placement. Completers will be guaranteed an interview with a Dundee manufacturing business.

Who is it for? Dundee residents, 18+ years of age

When is it? 9am – 4pm, Monday 5th September – Friday 14th October

Where is it? D&A College, Kingsway Campus, Old Glamis Rd, Dundee, DD3 8LE

How do get involved: Referrals and enquires: Contact us – Discover Work (discoverworkdundee.co.uk) or email [email protected]

Launch of additional Employability Pathway services, as part of the Discover Work Service, to support young people back into work, education or training

The Discover Work Partnership is delighted with the response to the Discover Work Challenge Fund (Round 2). The process was competitive, with the demand from applicants being almost twice that of the funding available.

We are pleased to announce, the successful applicant is ENABLE Scotland (on behalf of a consortium of third sector organisations, known as All in Dundee).  The consortium has been awarded funding from the Discover Work Partnership since 2019 with ENABLE Scotland working in partnership with Barnardo’s, Volunteering Matters (Project Scotland), Access to Industry, DEAP Ltd, and One Parent Families Scotland.  To date, the consortium has had a remit to focus on supporting those with physical and mental health conditions, as well as parents belonging to specific households at risk of experiencing poverty

The consortium’s application proposed an expansion of their membership to include Street League, HELM Training Ltd, and The Prince’s Trust – resulting in a consortium of 9 organisations in total.  Alongside ENABLE, Barnardo’s, and DEAP, they are offering a wide variety and depth of support for the priority customer groups within the priority areas – see further information below.  The expanded membership will result in Dundee’s Third Sector forming the largest Third Sector consortium of employability providers in Scotland, with an aim to work as one in partnership with Council Services, while simplifying the offers available to Adults, Young People, and Households – including those with physical and mental health conditions, disabilities, experience of care, convictions, or an offending history, etc. 

Priority Customer Groups

· Those identified as being most at risk of leaving school and not participating in employment, education, or training · Those aged 16-19 who are Not Participating (particularly those Unemployed & Not Seeking) or Unconfirmed · Young People aged 16-24 requiring intensive and tailored support to address barriers caused by: –  additional support needs; –  experience of care; –  caring responsibilities; –  disabilities; –  mental health conditions; and –  convictions or an offending history. · Young People aged 16-24 who are long-term unemployed/inactive and most at risk of not re-entering or sustaining a positive destination. · Those requiring specialist/bespoke support to access the workplace (eg neurodiverse customers; those with severe and enduring mental health conditions) including associated advice, guidance and support for employers (eg flexible recruitment practices to improve workforce diversity; Equality, Diversity, Disability Awareness Training; application of accommodations and adjustments to work duties). (Informed by local labour market analysis and stakeholder input which highlighted those in the greatest need of support to participate, progress, and enter employment or other positive destination)

Priority Electoral Ward Areas

Coldside, Lochee, North East, and East End (informed by local labour market analysis that highlighted the wards with the greatest need of improvement in their Annual Participation Measure, Unemployment, and Inactivity)

Priority Employment Sectors

Health & Social Care, Public Sector, Digital, Construction, Tourism, Accommodation & Food Services, Admin & Support Services, Customer Service and others that provide occupations at an appropriate level for our priority customers groups (informed by the Tay Cities Regional Economic Strategy (2019-2039), Regional Skills Assessment, Data Matrix, and Regional Skills Investment Plans)

ENABLE’s Application was entirely aligned with / responded to the vision and goals outlined in our Discover Work Strategy 2022 – 2027, namely:

Strategic Goal:

1. Strengthen the functions and effectiveness of Discover Work

Top Line Action Area:

1.5. Simplify the local Employability Landscape

Specific Actions:

1.5.2. Improve the range and coordination between existing employability providers 1.5.4. Greater integration and alignment of services provided by all employability providers to support customers and employers more effectively

The consortium will be in touch with partners soon with more information regarding operational delivery and recruitment.

To find out more about the service, get involved or to make a referral, please contact All in Dundee:

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 07714396493

Facebook: All in Dundee | Facebook

The Rank Foundation will support young leaders to launch careers in the third sector, with all the time and support they need to thrive.

Long-time supporters of Dundee’s young people, The Rank Foundation, are once again looking for candidates to take up a fully-funded 12 month, paid work placement with a Dundee-based third sector employer.

Successful young leaders on the programme can have the opportunity to:

• Gain experience in areas as diverse as social media management, community development or office administration
• Develop skills and accredited training for their role, whilst being supported by an understanding employer
• Attend off-site training to work on soft skills and personal development with other young people
• Earn a living wage

Eligibility Criteria for Aspire Programme:

• 18 – 24 year old, living in Dundee
• Not in Employment or education
• Coming from areas of social and economic disadvantage, disadvantaged backgrounds or personal circumstances, and who may face barriers to social mobility
• Be available to attend work/training programme from September 2022 to September 2023

Any individuals or organisations who know aspiring young leaders interested in the voluntary or charitable sector are encouraged to contact [email protected] for more details or to make a referral/sign-up.

Please click here to view the latest Discover Work newsletter featuring news stories, case studies and other useful employability information.

Discover Work Partnership would like to thank everyone who contributed their stories for this quarter’s newsletter. Going forward we will do our best to highlight more of the inspirational employability journeys happening in Dundee!

If you’re a woman (living in the UK) looking to enter a career in online/cloud services, you could be eligible for Primed Talent‘s ‘Amazon Web Services (AWS) re/Start‘ programme:

https://www.primedtalent.com/aws-restart

Alexander Community Development is an exciting and innovative charity with the aim of helping the progression and future growth of Dundee. With a focus on young people, construction and innovative employer engagement, ACD’s meteoric rise has been accompanied by brilliant outcomes for people in our city.

School’s Programme: ACD’s most recent school cohort has supported all 12 candidate’s to achieve positive destinations in further education or training. This vital work helps to encourage young people at risk of leaving school with no plan or next steps to explore their potential and believe in their future.

Celebrating Success: ACD is also celebrating the success of their 16+ cohorts with 3 recent candidates securing employment after attending the course and 7 previous attendees achieving vocational qualifications. Not to mention the plucky young school leaver who has secured himself a work trial by handing his CV (expertly supported by ACD staff) direct to an employer!

Please visit ACD’s website for more info and to get involved!

The Discover Work Partnership is delighted to announce the launch of its Strategy & Action Plan 2022 – 2027, where we set out our strategic vision, goals and context relating to our ambitious transformation of employability for a new Dundee.

Download: Discover Work Strategy & Summarised Action Plan 2022-2027.

Download: Discover Work Detailed Action Plan 2022-2027.

On behalf of the Discover Work Partnership, Dundee City Council is delighted to launch Challenge Fund (Round 2) – an Application Process for funding – with a value of up to £1.55m for the delivery of additional and / or enhanced services in an Employability Pathway during the period 1 July 2022 – 31 March 2024 with scope for two further annual extensions. 

The Challenge Fund (Round 2) is open to eligible organisations who want to support our Community Wealth Building approach to economic development, by delivering employability services that remove structural inequalities experienced by local residents that prevent their progression towards sustainable employment.

This enhances the original Challenge Fund framework published in 2019, where many aspects continue to be relevant and have been absorbed into Challenge Fund (Round 2).  The outcome of the original Challenge Fund framework was summarised in a report for Dundee City Council’s City Development Committee on 9 September 2019, including the details of existing Delivery Partners awarded funding for the delivery of services in the Employability Pathway during the period 1 October 2019 – 31 March 2023. 

Organisations can request a copy of the Challenge Fund (Round 2) Application Pack by emailing [email protected]

A timetable for the advertisement, application and assessment process is provided below: