Gateway to Success

The Data-Driven Innovation Skills Gateway was a finalist at this year’s Digital Leaders 100 awards.

The Skills Gateway made it into the final three for Digital Skills Initiative of the Year, out of hundreds of entries from across the UK. With over 700 nominations, judges recognised the Skills Gateway‘s innovative and cross-sector approach to improving data skills as a key component of the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal’s skills and employability programme.

The growth of Scotland’s technology ecosystem and changing world of work has led to a rapid increase in demand for workers with appropriate data skills. The Scottish Futures Institute estimates that 175,000 new digital jobs alone will have been generated in Scotland by 2030, with 37,000 of those based in Edinburgh. Yet, around 60% of digital organisations in Southeast Scotland say limited supply of talent is their biggest challenge.

Alison Muckersie, Programme Lead for the DDI Skills Gateway, commented: “The DDI Skills Gateway set out to be innovative and inclusive, but we have also learnt the importance of being responsive. We are all about ensuring that our citizens are well equipped to recognise and understand the opportunity provided by the data revolution – regardless of their gender, background or location – and that they are given options and support to develop the wide-ranging data literacy skills which we will all need.”

The Skills Gateway is tackling digital skills shortages by growing the data skills of the region’s citizens, and helps to deliver targeted activities in local schools, colleges, universities and across employability and work settings. The team has already developed the first school-based data science qualification in Britain, is offering a wider range of data training at all levels and can provide individuals and organisations with grants to be used for upskilling activities.

www.ESESCommunities.org

A new website is being launched to encourage links between good causes and businesses across Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and Borders. Funded by the £1.3bn Edinburgh & South East Scotland City Region Deal, the ESESCommunities.org portal will allow charities in the region to make community benefit requests of businesses in the supply chain of City Deal projects.

The Deal is a joint investment between both the UK and Scottish Governments.

Community benefits are mandatory clauses in the awarding of most public contracts. Examples include businesses committing to apprenticeships, engagement with schools and using local supply chains. It is hoped the new site can extend support to groups focusing on recreation, wellbeing, the environment and social enterprises.

Major projects supported by the City Deal include cutting edge new research and innovation facilities at the Universities of Edinburgh, Heriot Watt and Queen Margaret – as well as developing 41,000 new homes and improving transport links across the 6 local authority areas. The Deal will also deliver new industrial estate units across Fife and the Scottish Borders to support local businesses and create jobs.

Claire Pattullo, Chief Executive of Social Enterprise Edinburgh and Chair of the Regional Enterprise Council stated: “Community benefits can help people and communities to understand how they can positively benefit from public spending. There are already many examples within the third sector across the region which show how people and places have gained additional support through local developments. I would encourage all community groups to visit the ESESCommuities.org portal to find out how they can register their request.”

One project within the Deal will see the University of Edinburgh transform the historic old Royal Infirmary at Lauriston to house the Edinburgh Futures Institute – a major new centre for teaching, research and digital driven innovation (DDI). Commencing £70million of work on the project, construction firm Balfour Beatty have already set about delivering community benefits.

Naila Akram, Head of Social Impact for Balfour Beatty’s regional business in Scotland, said: “At Balfour Beatty, we want to leave a lasting, positive legacy for communities, wherever we operate. We welcome the introduction of Edinburgh City and South Region City Deal's forward-thinking portal, which will further streamline our community benefit offer and deliver what local communities want and need.

"We look forward to utilising this new resource across our breadth of projects in the City of Edinburgh; maximising opportunities for all."

Led by Capital City Partnership and created by Fife-based web development firm Horisk Leslie, the site will also host updates on City Deal projects. The portal will be open to all businesses within the region interested in supporting communities, regardless of they are currently in the public sector supply chain or unfamiliar with community benefits.

For more information, visit www.ESESCommunities.org, call 0131 376 1846 or email info@ESESCommunities.org.

Fast-access help for City Region small businesses made big difference during first year of COVID-19

Seventy-seven businesses across the City Region have received help to stay afloat during the pandemic thanks to a specially designed rescue fund.

The micro-businesses were offered the chance to apply for small grants between £500-£1,000 with no restrictions on sector or length of trading history.

The fund helped a diverse range of businesses, from small local retailers to events and tourism companies to buy equipment for remote-working, diversify their trading offers, and purchase goods or services to allow them to remain open with the new restrictions in place.

The businesses received funds within two weeks of approval of their applications and have reported that it helped them keep over 100 people in work.

As a result, these businesses – which otherwise may have had to close their doors, make redundancies or end employment contracts – were able to continue trading and keep their employees.

The Integrated Employer Engagement (IEE) fund was designed and launched through Business Gateway and the City Region Deal’s skills and employability partnership channels. The IEE team are part of Capital City Partnership, who lead and coordinate the local job strategy group and were fully supportive of the fund’s objective to help businesses continue trading under new government guidelines and prevent job losses.

Through consultations, the IEE team and Business Gateway identified a gap in the wide array of Covid19 response funds for accessible, up front small enterprise grants for micro businesses.

For more information, visit: capitalcitypartnership.co.uk/city-region-deal

City Region Deal Project Provides Vital Support to Fife Families Throughout Pandemic

The Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal’s Intensive Family Support Service is helping families in areas affected by low employment levels and higher poverty rates cope with the Covid-19 crisis.  The pandemic has created new challenges and worsened existing issues such as food insecurity, poor mental health and low income. These barriers create further disadvantage for children and young people. This means support is needed now, more than ever.

In Fife, ‘Making it Work’ for Families is being delivered to support vulnerable families with S1/S2 pupils living at home. Fife Gingerbread and partners provide holistic family support to lone parent and low-income families. Developed ahead of the Covid-19 pandemic, the project has been adapted so that it’s delivered safely and effectively.

Laura Millar, Fife Gingerbread, said: “Problems beyond the classroom affect the ability of children and young people to be in school and ready to learn. Working with families is the most effective way to make real, positive change. The programme has been re-introduced at a challenging time for lone parents and families in need. It is a privilege to get to know families and provide support that we hope can be a catalyst for change. There is an opportunity to work across the City Region and continuously improve our approach to deliver the best possible support.”

One in five children live in poverty across Fife, but this rises to almost one in three in some places1. ‘Making it Work for Families’ is focused where child poverty issues are most widespread, starting with families connected to Levenmouth Academy and Viewforth High School.

Fife Gingerbread, Citizens Advice & Rights Fife, Clued Up and Fife’s Intensive Rehabilitation & Substance Misuse team are working together to provide support to meet the needs of families, including: 

• Emotional support for parents/carers through 1-1 support

• Support for young people focused on wellbeing and personal development

• Financial inclusion activities, income maximisation, housing support and budgeting

• Crisis interventions to ensure families are safe, warm and fed

• Training such as confidence building, cooking and career development

• Connecting families to job opportunities across the City Region.

Fife Council Co-Leader David Ross said: “The Intensive Family Support Service within the City Region Deal is a great opportunity to bring together a wealth of expertise and approaches across Edinburgh and South East Scotland to improve the lives and opportunities for our region’s families.”

Fife Council Co-Leader David Alexander added: “The Intensive Family Support Service’s ‘Making it Work for families’ programme has adapted to provide vital support to vulnerable families during lockdown and help end disadvantage. By reaching out to families most in need of support and helping pupils attend school Fife’s children and young people can make the most of their education.”

Over recent weeks and months most support has been delivered online, with families supported to overcome digital exclusion barriers.

Bridging the gap between school and home life
One Fife family was referred by a high school during the first lockdown in 2020. The young person in the household was having difficulties engaging with and attending school, and had not been participating during school closures.

During an initial home visit the 39-year old lone parent revealed health conditions that were impacting on the family. Family relationships were often strained, and this was something the parent wanted to improve on.  After that, weekly contact via phone or video calls provided essential emotional support. This support was tailored to the individual, with a combination of texting, messaging and video calls.

The family was struggling on a limited budget - so providing a financial review and practical advice supported the family and relieved a great deal of  financial strain.

As well as practical support – making sure the young person, aged 14, had a device to engage with online learning during lockdown – a focus was  on reducing feelings of isolation during lockdown. A dedicated youth worker supported them with their mental health, confidence, self-esteem, emotions and helping them achieve their aspirations through a trusting and non-judgmental environment.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the young person and their worker met on a weekly basis to go for a walk. Changes were put in place to encourage positive thinking and school attainment. This has included video chat to support the young person with home learning challenges whilst not in school. 

During this second lockdown the family continues to receive support through mental health services and financial and budgeting advice to achieve greater financial stability. The young person continues to get help in building their confidence and aspirations and is now engaging well with school and is much more positive about their future.

Contact Information

Jenny Murray

Communications

Fife Council

03451 55 55 55 ext. 44 26 06

Jenny.Murray-crm@fife.gov.uk

City Region Deal help for family support services

Intensive family support services across South East Scotland are receiving a boost from the City Region Deal.

The Deal’s Intensive Family Support Service will help families in areas of chronic worklessness and poverty, bringing together the third sector and all six local authorities in South East Scotland with research expertise from the University of Edinburgh.

The first phase has launched in South East Scotland, covering Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian, Fife, Scottish Borders, and West Lothian.

Capital City Partnership has engaged leading charities Children 1st, Barnardo’s and Fife Gingerbread to partner with local authorities in delivery of the services.

Rona Hunter, Chief Executive Officer, Capital City Partnership, said:

The Intensive Family Support Service within the City Region Deal is a great opportunity to bring together a wealth of expertise and approaches across Edinburgh and South East Scotland to improve the lives and opportunities for a number of families. Harnessing local efforts under a regional framework, it establishes how we can make a difference in the long term to bring about sustainable change. I’m looking forward to seeing the project develop and for further knowledge to emerge so that we can continue to improve pathways out of poverty and inequality.

Focus areas include: supporting lone parent and low-income households affected by worklessness; helping adults to provide a better environment for their young people; and ensuring families can benefit from job opportunities created through the City Region Deal.

Families will receive support for core issues that affect everyone in the household to create stability and increase independence. They will receive help to engage in employment or employability-related activities, and receive advice on welfare and income maximisation.

Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity, Michael Matheson said:

City Region and Growth Deals will be a crucial part of our economic recovery from coronavirus (COVID-19) as we work towards a fairer and more inclusive Scotland. We are investing £300 million over 15 years to the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal across transport, housing, culture, innovation and skills to help achieve this.

The Intensive Family Support Service will demonstrate that we can achieve more by working together in partnership and in turn, be able to provide support and opportunities for those that need it most in these challenging times.

Sarah Galey-Horn, University of Edinburgh, is helping the service look at how organisational and social interactions promote economic mobility in low-income families. Sarah commented:

I see family support programmes like IFSS as part of a broader trend towards community-based social policy that puts human relationships, rather than individual outcomes, at the centre of social services. The research project uses a method called social network analysis (SNA) that focuses on analysing and building relationships that reduce poverty-related vulnerabilities. This approach will help us identify practices that facilitate trusting, supportive relationships with families and to share those practices across the six local delivery partners.