Businesses, charities and other groups will benefit.

A fund to help businesses, charities and other organisations adopt fair work practices has opened for applications.

The Scottish Government announced the pot of cash, which totals £350,000 is open for applications until Sunday, September 1.

Grants are available to implement changes such as the delivery of workplace training and processes that support flexible working and help to create and sustain a more diverse workforce.

The Fairer Workplaces Fund adds to Scottish Government measures supporting fair work, including making payment of the real Living Wage and providing an effective voice for workers a condition of grant awards.

The move has been welcomed by voices in the voluntary sector. 

Anna Fowlie, chief executive of the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), told TFN: “SCVO welcomes the Scottish Government’s ambition to become a Fair Work Nation by 2025.

“Scotland’s voluntary sector is a major employer - employing over 133,000 people, around 5% of Scotland’s workforce. Fair Work for Scotland’s voluntary sector workforce should be a priority.

“For many years SCVO have called for funders, including the Scottish Government, to support the sector on the journey to become Fair Work employers.

“We therefore welcome this fund and encourage organisations across the sector to apply.

“However, while many voluntary organisations aspire to be Fair Work employers the Scottish Government must go further in their support, recognising that poor funding and procurement practices undermine aspirations to offer secure work.

“To meet the Scottish Government’s Fair Work ambitions, progress on the Scottish Government’s commitment to Fairer Funding for the voluntary sector, is essential.”

Employment Minister Tom Arthur added: “Offering flexible shift patterns, remote working and making workplaces more accessible are among the relatively simple steps that can help more people into work and ensure they are able to stay there.

“They are also good for business. Experience shows that adopting fair work practices can help recruitment and improve staff retention. This new fund and the dissemination of the learning from it will help more companies – and Scotland’s wider economy - reap those benefits.

“The company I’m visiting today demonstrate how supporting your workforce goes hand-in-hand with running a successful company.”