Specialist disability services expanded to cover all of Scotland

The Scottish Government has expanded specialist services helping disabled people find and remain in suitable work to cover the whole of Scotland.

It has announced an additional £5 million is being invested to enable disabled people living in all local authority areas to access tailored support through their local employability partnership.

The support available could include help with job searches, guiding employers in making workplace adjustments, helping companies to make roles suitable for someone with a disability and in-work support to help with employee retention.

Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “When we remove barriers and provide the right support, disabled people thrive in the workplace, bringing unique perspectives and skills that strengthen our economy.

“In our Programme for Government, we committed to expanding specialist employability support for disabled people across the country – building on the successful services already operating in many parts of Scotland.

“Working with local partners, our additional investment will standardise support across the country and help more disabled people progress into, and through, their careers.”

In 2025-26 the government is set to provide up to £90 million to be invested in the delivery of devolved employability services as part of the Scottish Government’s No One Left Behind approach.

The approach aims to deliver an employability system that tackles inequalities in Scotland’s labour market and address barriers for those finding work and sustaining it.

The additional funding has been allocated to local employability partnerships through local authorities. Local employability partnerships which already provide specialist employability support will use the new funding to expand services.

Hev Clift, 26, from Irvine, who received support from the EQUAL Specialist Employability Support services in North Ayrshire, now works as an Administrator at engineering firm Booth Welsh.

They said: “I have generalised anxiety disorder and I am autistic, so the social element of applying for jobs was a struggle for me. When I started with Equal, I struggled with applying for jobs and my transition from full-time study to the workplace was non-existent.

“Thanks to the support from Equal – knowing that someone was on your side – my confidence grew a bit and I went on to get work experience that led to my role at Booth Welsh as a Net Zero and Social Impact Coordinator.

“Equal have been amazing and I can’t praise them enough for how they champion people with additional support needs. I have only ever felt encouraged and supported – and I am eternally grateful.”