This service is managed by Active Communities
Employability support
Our Employability team can help anyone living in Orkney who is looking for work, wants to retrain, or is hoping to increase their hours or move to a better paid role. We offer personalised one-to-one and group support to help you build your confidence, skills and knowledge and progress towards your goals.
We work with statutory and third sector partners and follow the principles of the Scottish Government's No One Left Behind approach to employability, to make sure that no-one is left without the support they need.
What we can help with:
- Building confidence and self-esteem
- Health and wellbeing support
- Getting involved in your local community
- Benefits information and help to apply
- Information about learning opportunities
- Gaining qualifications
- Work tasters and volunteering
- Career information and job searching
- CV writing and interview preparation
- In-work support
We will work with you to establish your goals and ambitions and offer continued support to help you achieve them, in a way that suits you.
If you are an employer looking to build a more inclusive workforce, visit the Orkney Local Employment Partnership website for resources and guidance.
Related resources
Contact us
Lindsey Johnson, CLDE Team Manager - Employability
Suzy Fraser, Employability Keyworker
General enquiries
Related resources
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Employability in Orkney
This document contains an updated map of Orkney’s employability services and providers across five stages: referral, needs assessment, vocational activity, job matching, and in-work support. It covers support such as training, wellbeing advice, work experience, volunteering, employer links and help to stay in work. Services support different groups, including young people, people with disabilities and those facing barriers to employment, and individuals can join at any stage.
Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.
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Referral for Employability Support
This document contains an employability support referral form, updated in June 2025. It collects details about the referring agency and participant, reasons for referral, support needs, health and safety information, and preferred contact methods. It also explains how personal information will be stored and shared, and includes consent and signature sections for the participant and referring agency.
Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.
Useful links
Orkney Local Employability Partnership
The Orkney Local Employability Partnership (OLEP) brings together partners from across the public and third sectors to improve and align employability support in Orkney. Its aim is to create a more coherent and inclusive local approach to employability, in line with the Local Outcomes Improvement Plan and the Scottish Government's No One Left Behind policy.
The partnership builds on the strengths of existing services, aligns funding and improves integration with other support, to make sure services are designed around the needs and ambitions of the people who use them.
Related resources
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OLEP Annual Report 2024-25
This document contains the Orkney Local Employability Partnership’s annual report for 2024-25, covering its work to help people move towards learning, volunteering and fair, sustainable employment. It records support for 121 people, a 74% positive progression rate, 60 accredited courses, work placements, careers events and targeted programmes for young people, parents and people facing barriers. It also highlights partnership work with employers, schools and community organisations, alongside challenges from reduced and late funding, staff shortages and increasingly complex needs.
Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.
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OLEP Annual Report 2023-24
This document contains the Orkney Local Employability Partnership’s annual report for 2023-24. It explains how partners supported people facing barriers to move towards learning, training, volunteering and fair, sustainable work, including 105 people supported by the employability team and 100 pupils gaining work experience. It covers projects for young people, parents and adults, employer support, training, qualifications and career events. It also reports increased participation among 16-19-year-olds and highlights challenges caused by delayed annual funding and more complex support needs.
Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.
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No One Left Behind Operational Plan
This document contains Orkney’s No One Left Behind Operational Plan for 2022 to 2025. It sets out how the Orkney Local Employability Partnership will join up employment, training, education and wider support for people of all ages, focusing on those facing greater barriers, including disabled people, care-experienced young people, parents, people with convictions and those on low incomes. It describes local needs, funding, planned support, employer engagement and fair work activity, with progress checked through data, feedback and regular reviews.
Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.
Parental Employability Support
The Parental Employability Support Fund (PESF), funded by the Scottish Government, helps families on lower incomes increase their household income through education, training and work. We can support parents to find paid employment, or help those already in work to access more hours or move to a higher income.
Support is available to parents who are from lower income families; are single parents; are relatively young; have three or more children; have a child under one year old; have a child with a disability; or have a disability themselves.
We can help with building confidence, knowledge and skills; progressing in learning and training; increasing employment opportunities; and increasing household income. Contact us to find out more.
Related resources
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Parent Power Flyer
This document contains information about Orkney Islands Council’s Parent Power support for parents, including those on lower incomes, single parents, younger parents, larger families and parents or children with disabilities. It offers help with building confidence, gaining skills, training, finding work and increasing household income. Parents can check eligibility and apply by calling 01856 873535 ext 2413 or visiting orkney.gov.uk/ParentPower.
Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.
Employer Recruitment Incentive
We offer an Employer Recruitment Incentive (ERI) to help Orkney businesses and organisations in the private and third sector create new employment opportunities for people who face barriers to work.
Funding covers 50% of an employee's wage costs, up to a maximum contribution of £6,000. All jobs must be newly created and sustainable for at least 52 weeks. Apprenticeships are encouraged.
The scheme is open to organisations with fewer than 250 employees. Employers can apply for a maximum of two placements per year. Applications are dealt with on a first come, first served basis.
Who can be supported?
At least two of the following must apply to the individual being employed:
- Aged 16 to 24 and at risk of becoming NEET
- Aged 55 or over
- An asylum seeker or refugee
- Has a criminal conviction
- Has a disability or long-term health condition
- Lives in a remote or rural area
- Lives in a jobless household
- Is a single parent
- Is a looked after young person or care leaver
- Has substance-related conditions
- Is underemployed or has exited the Fair Start Scotland scheme
- Has no or limited work experience
Related resources
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Employer Recruitment Incentive - Information Pack 2025-26
This document contains information for employers about Orkney Islands Council’s 2025–2026 Employer Recruitment Incentive. It explains how eligible employers can receive up to £6,000 towards recruiting and supporting an unemployed Orkney resident who faces barriers to work, with an extra £1,000 for jobs of 25 hours or more each week. The pack covers eligible jobs and employees, funding conditions, application steps, payment requirements and monitoring. New employees must start by 30 September 2025, after funding approval.
Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.
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Employer Recruitment Incentive - Application Form 2025-26
This document contains the 2025-26 application form for Orkney Islands Council’s Employer Recruitment Incentive, which supports people facing barriers to employment. It gathers employer and participant details, checks eligibility, and asks about the job, pay, training and wider economic benefits. It also covers personal information sharing, monitoring, signatures and declarations from the participant, employer and Council.
Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.
Fast Track Courses
Our Fast Track courses are short, industry-specific programmes at UHI Orkney, created in partnership with local businesses to give participants the core skills employers are looking for in entry-level roles. Places are funded through the Scottish Government's No One Left Behind programme at no cost to eligible participants.
Our first Fast Track course - Fast Track to Hospitality - ran in spring 2024. Ten local people enrolled, all completed the course, and half went on to paid work or further education by the end of the year.
Current Fast Track courses include Hospitality and Construction.
To register your interest, ask your job coach, careers adviser or support worker to contact us.
Please note that No One Left Behind eligibility criteria apply.
Redundancy Support (PACE)
If you are facing redundancy, help is available through Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE), the Scottish Government's framework for responding to redundancy situations. PACE brings together local public sector agencies to respond quickly and effectively when redundancies are proposed.
Skills Development Scotland (SDS) leads on PACE delivery, alongside the Department for Work and Pensions, local authorities, the STUC and Citizens Advice Scotland. Contact us to find out more.