Welcome to the February edition of the Employability in Scotland e-bulletin.
With only 5 weeks to go until Work Able Scotland and Work First Scotland commence, final preparations are well underway. This includes a significant range of partnership and engagement activity with colleagues in Jobcentre Plus to develop awareness and support readiness for live running. We appreciate the significant amount of work that all our partners, including those in local government, the third sector and others have put into supporting us in getting to this stage with the 2017 service. Through your efforts in participating in the 2015 Consultation on employability support and sharing your experience and expertise, we are in place to deliver one of the first new powers to be devolved under the Smith Commission. Massive thanks go to all those who have made a contribution and we are looking forward to seeing both programmes in live running.
In parallel, work on developing the 2018 service is continuing at pace.
Earlier this month, during his appearance before the Scottish Parliament’s Social Security Committee the Minister for Employability and Training, Jamie Hepburn MSP, announced that that nine contract areas will deliver employment support across Scotland next year, with one of the areas set to be reserved for supported businesses. A further update has been released today that this will be West contract area, which encompasses East and West Dunbartonshire, Inverclyde, East Renfrewshire and Renfrewshire.
Information on this is available on the Employability in Scotland website on the 2018 Reserved Contract Area tab
We expect to issue an Invitation To Tender (ITT) to deliver the 2018 service on 8 March on the Public Contracts Scotland Website and will issue a further communication when the ITT goes live. We also intend to hold a Tenderers Briefing meeting in Perth and a separate meeting in the West contract area following publication of the ITT:
Perth: Monday 20 March
West Contract Area: Friday 24 March
We are currently finalising arrangements, however full details, including how to register/book a place will be notified on the ITT.
Finally, don’t forget to keep in touch. We are always happy to receive your case studies, examples of good practice and your contributions for the Employability in Scotland website and e-bulletin.
Best wishes