Third Sector - Employability
Third Sector Employability Forum (TSEF)
Third sector partners include charities, social enterprises and community groups which deliver essential services. They support in-reach to communities of interest and place that otherwise may not engage in employability services, provide specialist skills and tools and have a dedication to deliver person-centred outcomes at their core.
Each local authority area will have a different balance and range of third sector provision depending on the needs and challenges in their area. You can find out more about what is happening in each area here.
The national Third Sector Employability Forum (TSEF) and Third Sector Interfaces (TSIs) play an important role in supporting the third sector in employability in Scotland and you can read more information about them both further down this page.
In 2024 Scottish Government funded a national Third Sector Employability Partnership Engagement Manager to support third sector involvement in Local Employability Partnerships and delivery pathways across Scotland. The postholder works closely with TSEF and the TSI Network.
If you would like to find out more about the third sector and employability in Scotland then please contact pegs.bailey@tsi.scot or TSEF on helloTSEF@gmail.com
Third Sector Interfaces
There is a Third Sector Interface (TSI) for every local authority area in Scotland.
TSIs are funded by Scottish Government to support, develop and advocate for the third sector and social enterprise and also to make it easier for people to volunteer.
Due to their work with volunteers some TSIs also receive local funding to deliver support for people who wish to use volunteering as part of their journey to work.
TSIs represent third sector views on strategic partnerships like Integrated Joint Boards and Community Planning Partnerships, including Local Employability Partnerships.
In some areas the TSI receives additional funding from the local authority or LEP to do this work, to provide capacity building for local organisations whose work connects to employability and/or to manage small employability grants.
Whether they receive funding or not, all areas will have a named TSI LEP Rep.
To find out details of TSI LEP Reps, or to find out if TSI-led volunteering into work is happening in an area contact pegs.bailey@tsi.scot.
For more general information on TSIs visit www.tsi.scot.
Third Sector Employability Forum (TSEF)
TSEF is an independent Forum which exists to facilitate effective dialogue and knowledge sharing between third sector employability providers in Scotland, along with central and local government at national level to help deliver a strong and successful employability system.
TSEF aim to raise the voice and profile of the third sector’s diverse and collective contribution to employability in Scotland. Through this the aim is to inform employability policy so that it best meets the needs of people seeking support.
TSEF Values
TSEF believe in and adhere to the values of fairness, equality and inclusion and recognises that people's lives are complex. The third sector blends resources whilst being flexible and work across boundaries to support people to achieve a positive destination.
They support a partnership approach in the design, delivery, and improvement of employability services for the benefit of the people who need them.
TSEF Membership
TSEF represents and engages with a diverse and growing membership (circa 300 in 2024). This includes third sector employability and training providers of small and large scale, in rural and urban areas and with a range of specialisms. Members can be social enterprises, charitable organisations, third sector interfaces or other representative bodies.
The Forum recognises that employability is also relevant to organisations working in other areas of social support. As such we welcome third sector organisations involved in providing benefit advice, housing support, mental health services and any others who see employability as relevant to their purpose.
TSEF Governance
The Third Sector Employability Forum is supported and facilitated by an executive Group. Established in 2011, the TSEF Executive is made up of a maximum of 14 volunteers selected to reflect the diversity third sector perspectives involved in employability in Scotland. These include national and local providers, third sector interfaces, social enterprise, rural and urban perspectives.
To get an up-to-date list of the TSEF Exec members and current Chair please contact helloTSEF@gmail.com.
TSEF Activity
TSEF Executive members members attend UK & Scottish Government advisory and working groups and engage with relevant stakeholders such as the Improvement Service, DWP, SLAED, and COSLA on behalf of the Forum.
The TSEF Executive coordinate a programme of online and in-person events to facilitate direct engagement with relevant policy leads, research, good practice and funding opportunities.
TSEF hosts an online discussion and networking forum on KHub through which TSEF members can receive updates on events, relevant funding and policy developments. Members can also ask questions and share information with one another.
To find out more about TSEF, including requesting to join their online Forum and mailing list please email helloTSEF@gmail.com. Individuals can also request membership via registering on the KHub site and then searching for Third Sector Employability Forum.
TSEF on KHub holds an up-to-date list of TSEF Executive Members and their contact details.