The new service has helped almost 5,000 people into work since it was launched six months ago

Scotland’s new devolved employment service has helped thousands of people into work since it was launched earlier this year.

The first statistics for the Fair Start Scotland initiative – which was launched six months ago – reveal that 4,978 voluntarily enrolled in the scheme to receive help finding a job.

Between now and 2023, the service aims to support at least 38,000 people, including those who have challenges in accessing the labour market, but for whom work is a realistic prospect.

Fair Work Minister Jamie Hepburn said the service has hit the ground running, but the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) has said it is too early to draw conclusions.

Hepburn said: “Despite only being in its first year, Fair Start Scotland has hit the ground running and is already helping almost 5,000 people move towards and into employment in a respectful and dignified way.

“While it’s too early to know the impact in terms of sustainable jobs, the positive start Fair Start Scotland has made means people can choose to take part without fear it will affect existing benefits.

“We are keen to encourage people to take advantage of the employability support Fair Start Scotland offers.”

Hepburn added that the Scottish Government will continue to learn as it aims to build a fairer employability programme.

Fair Start Scotland is a voluntary scheme aimed at those who are furthest from getting steady work, including some with disabilities.

It is being delivered through nine regional contracts across Scotland, and is part of the Scottish Government’s to create a fairer Scotland through new devolved welfare powers.

The project drew criticism from third sector representatives after it was revealed that many of the lead contractors were private sector organisations. However the government has highlighted that a range of third sector groups will be involved as delivery partners.

The statistics almost two-thirds (61%) of those joining the service were aged 35 or over, while women accounted for more than a third (35%) of the people enrolled.

More than half (58%) of participants were reported as disabled, with 69% of the total having a long-term health condition, the most common of which related to mental health.

SCVO chief executive Anna Fowlie said it will be interesting to see how the scheme is affecting people’s experiences and outcomes.

“It is difficult to draw too many conclusions from these early figures,” she said. “The numbers are interesting, but tell us nothing yet about people’s experiences or outcomes.

“It is significant that a third of participants have a mental health condition, and two thirds have a long term health condition. Yet the contractual arrangements that exist offer no provision for additional and specific support.

“We know that every person’s journey to employment is different. Everyone has different needs that need to be met if they are to achieve the outcomes we are looking for, which must be long term and sustainable. That degree of personalisation requires a comprehensive assessment of each individual’s needs and a response from services that wraps around those needs if they are to overcome the barriers they face to meaningful employment.”

Fowlie added that she would like to have seen a breakdown of the number of referrals and services commissioned by the prime contractors from third sector organisations, especially to specialised providers of support for mental and physical health conditions.

She added: “As Fair Start Scotland develops, we have an opportunity to use its ambitions as the basis to reconfigure the employability landscape in Scotland for the longer term. We must better align across Scottish Government’s various policy agendas to achieve the right outcomes for the people who need it the most; we can only do that through collaboration across ministerial portfolios and across the public, third and private sectors.”

Statistics were also released for the transitional services created by the Scottish Government ahead of the Fair Start roll-out.

Work First Scotland, aimed at those with disabilities, helped 795 people enter employment which last at least 26 weeks, and 1,133 take on jobs which lasted at least 13 weeks. Work Able Scotland – aimed at helping unemployed people with long term health conditions – helped 125 participants into employment for at least six weeks and 47 for at least 26 weeks.