Publications

Employability Shared Measurement Framework Data Reporting Template (6MB, xlsx)

The data template has been co-designed with Local Authority partners and is used to report data to Scottish Government on people accessing employability support under No One Left Behind. The template has two tabs. The first tab entitled ‘Participant data’ is the reporting template which is completed by Local Authorities. The second tab entitled ‘Participant data guidance’ provides supporting information on how to record data for each data item on the reporting template. This Data Guidance is also available in PDF format and is located in the Publications section of the Employability in Scotland website.

No One Left Behind - Definitions of Work-related Activities and Allowances (255KB, pdf)

No One Left Behind LEP Commissioning Review Guide (67KB, docx)

This document is intended as a practical reflection and improvement tool for Local Employability Partnerships (LEPs) to review commissioning practice and identify areas for development in line with the No One Left Behind Good Practice Guidance for Commissioning Employability Services in Scotland.

No One Left Behind Communication Plan (541KB, pdf)

This Plan sets out a shared, national approach to improving how employability support is communicated across Scotland, ensuring messaging is clear, consistent and accessible to all audiences. The Plan provides a framework to support partners in raising awareness of the support available, strengthening collaboration, and enabling more people to access employability services at the right time. It doesn’t replace plans already in place, but complements local communication activity by offering core messaging, guidance and a collective approach to engagement.

Communication Plan Blank Template (17KB, docx)

This template is designed to support the planning of national No One Left Behind communication activity, helping to clarify roles, responsibilities, timing and frequency of messaging. It provides a consistent structure to support effective and coordinated communications across partners.

Employer Recruitment Incentive Framework - 2026 (362KB, pdf)

The Employer Recruitment Incentive (ERI) Framework was initially published in 2021. This refreshed version, published in April 2026, has been developed in partnership through a cross-sectoral working group, This Framework sets out the minimum standards and good practice to support consistency in implementing an Employer Recruitment Incentive delivered through Scottish Government No One Left Behind funds.

No One Left Behind Employability Services - Privacy Information Notice 2026

The No One Left Behind National Products Handbook

The No One Left Behind National Products Handbook is aimed at employability providers across Scotland and brings existing No One Left Behind resources together into one place. The handbook explains what the resources are, how they fit together and suggests how and when they can be used by delivery partners. Partners are encouraged to use these resources and adapt them to best suit local needs. Through their use, the intention is to enable a clear understanding of expectations, standards, and commitments for employability services. This aims to deliver consistency whilst retaining the ability to develop and deliver services flexibly and in line with local needs and improve outcomes for employability participants. This handbook has been designed in partnership between Scottish and local government and the resources are subject to our shared continuous improvement agenda.

Employability Strategic Plan: First Annual Report

On 16 December we published the first annual report on the Employability Strategic Plan 2024-2027. The first annual report demonstrates how we are working in partnership, harnessing the expertise of organisations taking a cross sectoral, collaborative approach to delivering improvements to Scotland’s employability services. With a continued focus on joint working at a strategic and political level, we will continue to build on the progress made so far to ensure that those furthest from Scotland’s labour market are supported to move into fair and sustainable work.

Good Practice Guidance on Communicating Employability Services (299KB, pdf)

In January 2025, a cross-sector working group was established to help improve communication across Scotland’s employability system. The group produced the Good Practice Guidance on Communicating Employability Services. This includes suggestions of good, and not so good, practice for content of online websites and digital information, recommendations for employability providers to consider when developing or updating websites and customer facing online directories and introductory paragraphs for use on future marketing and communications to support consistent messaging.

No One Left Behind Good Practice Guide for Commissioning Employability Services in Scotland (561KB, pdf)

This No One Left Behind Good Practice Guidance for Commissioning, published in December 2025, has been developed by a cross-sectoral working group with representatives across the sector. This guidance supports an emphasis on integration and alignment, a mixed economy of provision and a commitment to partnership working.

No One Left Behind Local Employability Partnership Framework - 2025 (467KB, pdf)

The LEP Framework was developed when No One Left Behind was first launched in 2020. This refreshed version, published in December 2025, has been developed through a cross-sectoral working group and brings the Framework up to date with findings from the LEP Maturity Assessment 2024 and the latest guidance on effective partnership working.

Joint Communication - No One Left Behind: Employability Strategic Plan 2024-27 (102KB, pdf)

On 13 September 2024 we published the Employability Strategic Plan 2024-2027. This plan outlines the key priorities for employability over the next three years, and identifies the action that Scottish and Local Government will take to deliver this next phase of No One Left Behind.

No One Left Behind: employability strategic plan 2024 to 2027

On 13 September 2024 we published the Employability Strategic Plan 2024-2027. This plan outlines the key priorities for employability over the next three years, and identifies the action that Scottish and Local Government will take to deliver this next phase of No One Left Behind. Through these priorities we are committing to work together to continue to improve Scotland’s employability services, to deliver for those facing structural barriers to employment, and to work across boundaries in supporting people to access sustainable fair work.