Fair Start Scotland
Fair Start Scotland was Scotland's first fully devolved employment support service commencing in April 2018 with the closing of new referrals to the service in March 2024. Fair Start Scotland provides 12-18 months of tailored, flexible, and person-centred pre-employment support to people who want help to find and stay in fair and sustainable work. The service continues to work with employers to help with recruitment and support for the employer and their new employee by offering up to 12 months in-work support.
About Fair Start Scotland
With dignity and respect at its core - participation in Fair Start Scotland was voluntary meaning people could choose to take part without fear that it would affect existing benefits.
Fair Start Scotland built on the success of our transitional services Work Able Scotland and Work First Scotland.
Fair Start Scotland continues to be delivered in nine contract areas across Scotland to reflect the reality of Scotland's geography, regional economies and population spread.
Fair Start Scotland is delivered collaboratively across a range of private, public and third sector delivery partners including a range of specialist providers to ensure people receive the right type of support for them. Find details of the contract areas and providers here.
Fair Start Scotland:
- was developed by listening to the views of people who rely on employment support.
- was funded by the Scottish Government, with Scottish Ministers have committed almost £24 million to the service in 2022/23
- is delivered in nine areas across Scotland, reflecting the reality of Scotland's geography, regional economies and population spread.
- Encourages Service Providers to commit to the Fair Work, Workforce and Community Benefits agendas (for example by promoting living wage employment, no use of zero hours contracts or umbrella companies and supporting the Scottish Business Pledge).
- Includes an offer of supported employment - an internationally recognised 'place and train' model enabling disabled people to learn on the job with support from colleagues and a job coach.
Fair Start Scotland Reporting
The Scottish Government regularly publishes information on Fair Start Scotland, Scotland's first fully devolved employment support service.
The most recent statistics published on 24 July 2024 show that:
-
There were 132,443 starts on either No One Left Behind or Fair Start Scotland (FSS) since April 2018 up to March 2024. The number of starts includes 9,849 people who have re-joined to the service, which has been possible since April 2021.
-
There has been a total of 25,414 job starts.
-
Official statistics in development for No One Left Behind show a total of 61,930 people started receiving support from April 2019 to March 2024.
The full publication can be found here:
Scotland's Devolved Employment Services: Statistical Summary July 2024 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)You can view all statistical publications for Fair Start Scotland and the No One Left Behind strategic approach to employability delivery at the link below.
Scotland's Devolved Employment Services statistics - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
The Scottish Government also publishes annual reports on how the service is delivering on its aims to treat people with dignity and respect and evaluating the how the support provided helps participants to achieve their potential.
The most recent Fair Start Scotland Annual Report, published on 19th January 2023, provides an overview of progress throughout Year 4 of delivery. The findings demonstrate how Fair Start Scotland continues to make a difference to participants, employers and communities, despite the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the emerging economic and cost crisis challenges.
Research reports were also published on 19th January 2023 that provide an insight into participants experiences of the support they received while on the service:
Contract Awards
On 4 October 2017, Jamie Hepburn MSP, then Minister for Business, Fair Work and Skills, announced the award of contracts with a value of up to £96 million to deliver Fair Start Scotland, in nine contract lot areas across Scotland.
Updated November 2020
Momentum Scotland delivered FSS services in Lot 7 throughout Year 2. However, they withdrew from Lot 7 and were replaced as Lead Provider by Start Scotland/Fedcap from 1 July 2020.
Lot 1: Glasgow
Local Authority: Glasgow
Successful Bidder: People Plus Group Ltd (Private)
Contact information: People Plus Group Ltd (Glasgow)
Telephone: 0141 471 5056
Email: infofairstart@peopleplus.co.uk
Web: www.peopleplus.co.uk
Twitter:@PPFairStartScot
Delivery Partners/Sub Contracted: The Lennox Partnership (Third Sector)
Lot 2: Lanarkshire
Local Authority: North and South Lanarkshire
Successful Bidder: Remploy Limited (Supported Business)
Contact information: Remploy Limited (Lanarkshire)
Telephone: 0300 456 8085
Twitter: @ScotlandRemploy
Email: Hamilton@mail.remploy.co.uk
Website: Remploy Scotland | Remploy
Delivery Partners/Sub Contracted: ENABLE Scotland (Third Sector); Routes to Work South (Third Sector)
Lot 3: Tayside
Local Authority: Angus, Dundee City, Perth and Kinross
Successful Bidder: Remploy Limited (Supported Business)
Contact information:
Remploy Limited (Tayside)
Telephone: 0300 456 8085
Twitter: @ScotlandRemploy
Email: dundee@mail.remploy.co.uk
Website: Remploy Scotland | Remploy
Delivery Partners/Sub Contracted: No delivery partners
Lot 4: Forth Valley
Local Authority: Falkirk, Stirling, Clackmannanshire
Successful Bidder: Falkirk Council (Public Sector)
Contact information: Falkirk Council (Forth Valley)
Telephone: 0800 028 0363
Email: fairstartforthvalley@falkirk.gov.uk
Web: www.falkirk.gov.uk/fairstart
Twitter: @FalkirkCouncil
Facebook: Employment and Training-Unit
Delivery Partners/Sub Contracted: Falkirk Council (Public Sector); Clackmannanshire Council (Public Sector); Stirling Council (Public Sector); NHS Forth Valley (Public Sector).
Lot 5: East
Local Authority: City of Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian, Scottish Borders, West Lothian, Fife
Successful Bidder: Start Scotland Limited (Private and Third Sector Partnership)
Contact information: Start Scotland (East)
Telephone: 0800 049 7061
Email: info@startscotland.scot
Twitter: @startscotland
Facebook: StartScotland
Delivery Partners/Sub Contracted: Start Scotland/ Fedcap (Third Sector); Triage (Private)
Lot 6: Southwest
Local Authority: North, South and East Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway
Successful Bidder: Start Scotland Limited (Private and Third Sector Partnership)
Contact information: Start Scotland (South West)
Telephone: 0800 049 7061
Email: info@startscotland.scot
Twitter: @startscotland
Facebook: StartScotland
Delivery Partners/Sub Contracted: The Lennox Partnership (Third Sector); Start Scotland/ Fedcap (Third Sector)
Lot 7: Northeast
Local Authority: Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire
Successful Bidder: Start Scotland Limited (Private and Third Sector Partnership )
Contact information: Start Scotland (North East)
Telephone: 0800 049 7061
Email: info@startscotland.scot
Twitter: @startscotland
Facebook: StartScotland
Delivery Partners/Sub Contracted: ENABLE Scotland (Third Sector); Aberdeen Foyer (Third Sector); Enterprise Mentoring Ltd (Private); Start Scotland/ Fedcap (Third Sector)
Lot 8: Highlands and Islands
Local Authority: Argyll and Bute, Eilean Siar, Highland, Moray, Orkney Islands, Shetland Islands
Successful Bidder: People Plus Ltd (Private)
Contact information: People Plus Limited (Highlands & Islands)
Telephone: 0141 471 5056
Email: infofairstart@peopleplus.co.uk
Web: www.peopleplus.co.uk
Twitter: PPFairStartScot
Delivery Partners/Sub Contracted: Argyll and Bute Council (Public Sector);Lochaber Hope (Third Sector); Third Sector Hebrides (Third Sector); Triage (Private); 2020 Clearview Ltd (Private)
Lot 9: West
Local Authority: East Renfrewshire, Renfrewshire, East Dunbartonshire, West Dunbartonshire, Inverclyde
Successful Bidder: The Wise Group (Third Sector)
Contact information: The Wise Group (West)
Telephone: 0300 303 3381
Email: fairstart@thewisegroup.co.uk
Web: www.thewisegroup.co.uk/fairstart
Twitter: @wisegroup_se
Delivery Partners/Sub Contracted: The Lennox Partnership (Third Sector); ENABLE Scotland (Third Sector); Enterprise Mentoring (Private); The Wise Group (Third Sector)
Related pages
No One Left Behind – Overview
No One Left Behind helps people of all ages to gain skills and build confidence. Click here to find out more.
Local Authority Employability Services
Find out key contact details, local services, case studies, employability related information and more.