Futures for All Employer Recruitment Incentive
Launched in August 2024, the Futures For All – Employer Recruitment Incentive has allocated a total of £361,000 to 53 employers in Perth & Kinross with more funding on offer.
The Employer Recruitment Incentive (ERI) works with both employers and potential employees and has been designed to integrate seamlessly with existing employability and skills programmes.
Managed by the Skills Employment Support Team at Perth & Kinross Council, the ERI is focused on addressing barriers to employment, creating lasting and meaningful job opportunities, and providing employers with financial support ranging from £2,000 to £8,000 depending on the employees’ contracted hours.
To date, the incentive has enrolled 29 employers and participants on the project, with an additional 25 employers awarded funding and currently recruiting to fill their vacancies.
Roles placed include a Grain Plant Operative, Trainee Gym Instructor, Youth Worker, Basketball Community Coach, Care Assistant, and a Digital Marketing Assistant. In addition to this, thirteen modern apprenticeships have been secured in fields including business and admin, hairdressing, baking, electrical work, upcycling, and scaffolding.
A spokesperson for the team commented, “While the UK has seen an increase in employment over recent years, a number of challenges remain. This is particularly problematic among individuals aged 16 to 24 and those between 50-64, where in economic inactivity has been rising.
“The Employer Recruitment Incentive provides financial support to local businesses to assist with the costs of recruiting and retaining eligible individuals. The ERI can be utilised in various ways such as covering wages, providing training, offering initial travel to work expenses, or providing specialist in-work support.
“A core focus of ERI is to ensure long-term job sustainability and roles that emphasise training and growth. By joining forces with employers who are committed to investing in growth and development, the initiative facilitates the creation of new job opportunities for those individuals who are furthest from the job market.”
ERI Eligibility Criteria
Employers
• Must pay the employee the Real Living Wage for Scotland based on age/apprenticeship programme. Find out more >
• Must be an SME with 250 or fewer employees (those with more than 250 will be considered on a case-by-case basis).
• Must offer between 8 and 30+ contracted hours for the duration of 52 weeks or more
• Must be based in Perth and Kinross
Potential Employees
• Must face one or more barriers to employment. Please get in touch with [email protected] for full details on what is considered a barrier.
• Must be willing to work between 8 and 30+ contracted hours for the duration of 52 weeks or more
• Must be based in Perth and Kinross
How it works
Employers
The Skills Employment Support Team can support employers via two different routes.
1. If you have a candidate in mind for a position, who you believe fits our criteria, then you can contact the team for assistance in applying for ERI funding.
2. If you are looking to fill or create a position, and do not have a candidate in mind, then you can contact the team for assistance in applying for ERI funding. If successful, they can create a custom job advert for your role, share it across digital channels and groups, and where possible, connect you with candidates from their talent pool.
In addition to our business support, whether you need HR advice or help with creating tailored training for your team, we're here to connect you with our fantastic partners throughout Perth and Kinross.
Contact [email protected] for further details.
