The Network of Employability Support and Training (NEST) is a programme of grant-funded providers supporting clients in Edinburgh with employability.
A total of 24 projects began delivering support on 1 April 2025, with projects funded until March 2028. These projects wrap around the larger, contracted provision and are funded by City of Edinburgh Council via Scottish Government’s No One Left Behind strategy.
Access Data supports individuals in gaining knowledge and skills related to the world of data preparing them for the demands of the contemporary job market. Tailored to individual needs, the project is made for those with no previous experience in data, or someone who already possesses a little knowledge and skills. It will also support people with very little digital skills. They aim to help people overcome any challenges they might be facing, to move into employment.
Access Data is a chance to explore the world of data presented in plain English and through real-life examples, with one-to-one tailored support on every step of the way through a Data Routeway. Access Data Courses are delivered by Access to Industry and Edinburgh College lecturers and provide a direct path into higher education and/or jobs. Learning is available in person and through hybrid, online, learning.
EdinMe is a service for people aged 16-24 (25 if care experienced) with mental health wellbeing issues (diagnosed or undiagnosed) which are affecting progression towards sustained education or employment. Young people referred may also have issues around the misuse of substances/alcohol; criminal justice; neurodivergences; and/or be part of LGBTQI+ communities.
EdinMe will provide 1-1 support, group work and work towards progression into continued education and jobs. Each young person has their own caseworker who will work with them around any issues that are impeding the young person moving on, be that wellbeing related, job related or ‘anything’. EdinMe will also offer groupwork/learning opportunities, some that lead to qualifications, others that are fun. The project runs throughout the year, it is not time limited.
Referral is made directly to Access to Industry and can be from any organisation working with a young person who is looking for their next step.
Bright Family Futures (BFF) is an employability programme for New Scots Parents looking to move into work, education or training; or for those in work, a move to a better job.
Through a combination of 1:1 support, group sessions & activities, parents will receive support tailored to their needs, offering flexibility around care responsibilities & will include:
A 12-week ESOL course (2 sessions per week) will be offered to all participants.
Step2Work is a 13-week employability programme for Young People to explore different career options, gain practical work experience and achieve a vocational qualification.
Delivered 3-days a week, participants will meet other Young People and participate in a range of activities, including:
CHAI’s Ethnically Diverse Families Advice project offers personalised, holistic support to families from ethnically diverse backgrounds who are unemployed or struggling with in-work poverty. With a focus on early intervention, their Adviser provides expert guidance on benefits, housing, and money management, helping families maximise their income and make informed decisions about their employment options.
Using a person-centred and trauma-informed approach, CHAI address key challenges such as discrimination, language barriers, and a lack of support networks. Through the Whole Family Equality Project, they go beyond advice - offering pathways to skills development, volunteering opportunities, and employment that empowers families to achieve meaningful employment and long-term financial stability.
CHAI are committed to breaking down barriers and building brighter futures.
The Futureheads Employability project supports young people aged 15 - 24 into employment, education and training.
Citadel Youth Centre’s weekly Careers Café helps unemployed young people and school leavers with job searches, college applications, CV writing and interview preparation.
Young people can also boost their CVs through accredited learning, including the SCQF4/5 Preparation for Employment award.
They have a dedicated Mental Health and Wellbeing Worker, offering non-clinical small group and 1:1 support.
The Citadel Connect project trains and supports young people to participate in a range of volunteering opportunities geared to their career interests.
Cyrenians’ Foundations to Employment has been delivering an innovative and bespoke employability service to those furthest from employment across the city for the last nine years. The provision of a person-centred, relational approach to address barriers to employment is inspiring, rewarding, frustrating and, at times, challenging - often generating all of those emotions in just one day! With two dedicated Caseworkers who promote active engagement and positive progression, it has proven to be highly successful.
Cyrenians’ Caseworkers have extensive expertise in the management of multiple and complex needs and collectively bring over twenty years related experience to the delivery of this much-needed outreach service.
Key to College (KTC) offers an outreach keywork service to assist school leaving college applicants through the entire college process. This includes guidance on courses, applications, college visits, interview prep, self-enrolment and setting up student accounts. We also liaise with college staff and parents over funding and course availability. Cyrenians’ staff visit college campuses with young people and help them prepare effectively before starting college.
Their key client group are those going to college from school at 16 to ensure both young person and parent are not only supported through the entire college application process but also prepared for college starting. This includes applying for bursary and the evidence required, setting up a bank account and sourcing any ID documents required. Cyrenians’ provide a laptop for online college study, materials and the application process. They accept referrals from school 16+, SDS and other NEST and training providers.
Key to Potential is a careers outreach keywork service. They take referrals for young people leaving school at 16 who have had limited careers support due to disrupted education or long-term non-attendance. Their stage 1 provision offers home visiting support to reach families and young people who would be missing from post-school provision to help them move onto suitable positive destinations.
Their tasks include career guidance with parents/carers and young people, assisting to open bank accounts, ID, Young Scot Card, CVs and email/phone contacts, referrals to training provision and college application assistance. They look to build trust with the family and work at the young person’s pace to visit training, college and gain knowledge of available post-school options to assist each young person to move onto a destination they choose, can attend and participate in independently for the future.
Deaf Action exists to celebrate and support deaf people. They will deliver an Employability Support programme for deaf people living in Edinburgh who are unemployed, or who are employed and seeking to further their career.
The employment barriers faced by deaf people are vast and include lack of skills and qualifications; language and access challenges; and inadequate workplace support. They will address these challenges by offering a diverse range of employability supports to suit individual needs, such as help finding and applying for jobs; careers advice; help accessing volunteer opportunities; in-work support; support to enter education; access to BSL interpreters; and confidence-building.
Personalised and holistic support delivered by our BSL-fluent Employability Adviser (EA) will support our deaf clients to overcome employment barriers, with aim to move them towards work, into work, or into a better role.
Edinburgh College are delivering a series of workshops aimed exclusively for parents:
LIFT at Muirhouse Millennium Centre offers ‘First Steps to Employment’ support, through group sessions, workshops and one - one support, clients will learn new skills, increase their Mental Wellbeing and become job ready at their own pace, meeting their needs and increasing this social skills.
There is a focus on setting realistic employment goals and developing achievable action plans.
LINKnet’s Mentoring and Training for Employment and Education project is established to help increasing the number of minority ethnic people in employment and education. Support is provided to minority ethnic people including refugees and asylum seekers over the age of 18 through a one-to-one mentoring programme delivered by experienced and trained mentors.
Mentoring is provided for 2 to 3 hours per week up to six months either in person or online. Mentoring pairs are selected based on mentee needs and mentor skills. In addition to the provision of mentoring, service users have the option to join LINKnet’s complementary English language classes and/or a volunteer work placement project.
LINKnet has provided this service for more than 24 years and has an impeccable track record of achieving employment/education outcomes.
‘Pathways to Success’ supports ethnic minorities, parents, and young people in Edinburgh facing barriers to employment such as language proficiency, lack of qualifications, childcare needs, and mental health challenges.
Delivered by the Multi-Cultural Family Base, the program will offer a tailored services including employability workshops, sector-specific training, childcare support, and mental health resources. Clients receive individualised action plans and ongoing mentorship to help secure and sustain employment.
Through strong community partnerships, the project provides holistic support and onward referrals, ensuring participants can access the services they need to achieve fair and sustainable employment.
OPFS Childcare Connector provides essential support to single parents in Edinburgh, helping them navigate the complexities of childcare and secure the necessary arrangements to pursue education, employment, or volunteering.
OPFS offer personalised guidance, funding assistance, and ongoing support to ensure parents have the resources they need to succeed. Their goal is to break down barriers and create pathways to a brighter future for single parents and their children.
OPFS Edinburgh is dedicated to helping single parents achieve sustainable employment and improve their overall well-being.
Their person-centred Employability Support Service provides tailored support to overcome barriers and develop essential skills. Through their 6-Week Empowerment to Employment Programme, they help parents build skills in job search strategies, financial planning, and growth mindset, with 1:1 support from our dedicated Employability Workers.
Beyond employability support, OPFS offer a wraparound family support service, covering parenting, relationships, housing, and money advice. They also provide in-house mental health and well-being programmes, using CBT to support those with low to moderate anxiety and depression. Their holistic approach empowers single parents to build a brighter future for themselves and their families.
UCS is designed to support families from African/BME communities. Being led by lived experience, Passion4Fusion work with cultural sensitivity.
The families supported typically have migrant status, with no recourse to public funds. Many have fled conflict and are traumatised. They face significant barriers, including racial discrimination. For those who have found employment, they live in in-work poverty and are often overworked/exploited.
Passion4Fusion overcome these barriers through first-language support; expertise in rights with experience of supporting people to assert those rights; mental health support; and access to skills training. Their activities develop pathways to employment and include strategies for skill development, job search, and advancement.
Wrap around support, such as counselling is also provided. Their aftercare package ensures that their clients continue to progress, fulfil their potential, and improve the wellbeing of their families.
RUTS support young people aged 16-24 who face barriers to employment. Offering individual/group support to help gain industry-recognised qualifications and achieve goals. Examples include:
This equips young people with skills, qualifications their overall well-being and readiness for the job market.
ESOL Into Work offers a comprehensive, personalised English language and employability programme in South West Edinburgh, designed to empower minority ethnic groups and those experiencing in-work poverty.
Their holistic approach includes:
The service is perfect for anyone looking to enter the job market or advance their career into a higher paying position through improved language skills. ESOL Into Work is designed to help people thrive in the Scottish workplace. Attendees will improve their English, boost their employability, and open doors to new opportunities.
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Planning Futures for People is a comprehensive employability service, designed to help individuals develop skills and confidence to secure better jobs and support their families.
Their programme offers:
Space currently supports 24 nationalities, focusing on parents and carers from diverse backgrounds. Now they’re expanding to welcome more groups, including minority ethnic groups, parents, over 50s, young people 16-24 and those with long-term health conditions.
Their holistic approach addresses common barriers such as low confidence, childcare needs, and mental health issues. They provide tailored support through the employability pipeline from initial skill-building to job placement and beyond.
Stepping Stones offers parents living in North Edinburgh the opportunity to engage with learning opportunities, explore their aspirations and goals, removing barriers to education and employment.
Childcare is provided for children under age 5 to allow parents to take part in this opportunity.
Stepping Stones will support parents to increase their confidence, complete a range of courses and learning opportunities and connect parents with opportunities which can further their progression towards higher education and meaningful employment.
Support@Work (S@W) is an employment rights and responsibilities project linked to Edinburgh Trade Union Council. The service is staffed by two senior experienced union officials and an outreach worker Monday to Friday via a Free phone, with an answer machine service linked to staff emails.
S@W provides case work support and representation on employment rights to workers/employability service users being supported by health professionals, employability/employment advisers within Edinburgh.
Clients are normally not union members. Core groups of clients have included those in employment with long term physical/mental health disabilities, older workers, service veterans, migrant workers and those working non-guaranteed hour contracts. These cases have been referred to S@W via JU4J/NHS/word of mouth/training sessions/website. They support employed people at Stage 5 of the Strategic Skills Pipeline.
S@W signposts clients to on-going support from NHS, JU4J, trade unions and ACAS.
The Welcoming Associations is excited to launch the Bridges to Success project to support New Scots’ specifically asylum seekers, refugees, and migrants in Edinburgh.
Responding to the Local Employment Partnership (LEP) strategy, the GROW project will tackle barriers such as language skills, lack of work experience, and social isolation through tailored ESOL classes, employment mentoring, and cultural orientation.
With two full-time coordinators and volunteers, Bridges to Success will empower over 3,600 individuals from diverse backgrounds to build employability and access meaningful jobs.
Volunteering is a great way to build skills & confidence, develop work behaviours, test work-readiness and make connections. This service supports people to get involved in volunteer roles that help them progress towards employment or improve their options if already in work.
The service is person centred, based around working with and developing an individual’s unique skills, experience and aims, and delivered through one-to-one coaching or small groupwork. Volunteer Edinburgh help people find the volunteer role that is right for them and support them to address any barriers that stand in their way. Ensuring there is ‘no closed door’, and establishing trusting relationships, they will help you to take the next step - towards finding and sustaining new and fulfilling roles.
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