Welcome to Scotland – a guide for Service personnel and their families in Scotland (updated 2022)

Employment and Training

There are a number of ways to find work in Scotland and below is a list of the support services that we provide to help you in securing employment.

Skills Development Scotland (SDS)

SDS is Scotland’s career service. Their career information, advice and guidance service helps people of all ages to understand the world of work and develop lifelong career management skills. They can help you with career choices, job search, CVs and applications, apprenticeships, funding information and redundancy advice. Their qualified career guidance and advice experts deliver confidential and impartial career services through a network of high street career centres as well as offering career information, advice and guidance over the phone on their dedicated freephone helpline (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm – 0800 917 8000) and online at Scotland’s career website – https://www.myworldofwork.co.uk/.

You can find details of your closest SDS career centre at myworldofwork.co.uk/centres

You can also access specific and dedicated information and assistance for Armed Forces veterans and leavers on https://www.myworldofwork.co.uk/support-armed-forces-leavers-and-veterans

Working in Your Local Area

You can apply to work for your local council across a wide range of job roles and services. Visit My Job Scotland to view, search and apply for jobs in your area at www.myjobscotland.gov.uk/

Jobcentre Plus helps people to find and progress in work, including those who are unemployed and claiming benefits. Visit your nearest Jobcentre Plus for help with finding a job and information on any benefits you and your family might be entitled to, or visit the website at www.gov.uk/browse/benefits/entitlement

You can find further information surrounding the support services available at https://www.mygov.scot/browse/working-jobs

Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships are work-based learning opportunities or jobs with industry-recognised qualifications. Apprenticeship jobs provide people with the chance to work, learn and earn to get the skills employers want.

There are three types of Scottish Apprenticeships: Foundation, Modern and Graduate:

• Foundation Apprenticeships are taken as a subject in secondary school. Pupils get industry experience while gaining a work-based learning qualification and completing one at SCQF Level 6 is the same level of qualification as a Scottish Higher.
• Modern Apprenticeships are jobs for people over 16 who have left school. This type of apprenticeship enables you to get paid, and learn on the job. You get the experience you need whilst working towards a qualification with the support of a learning provider such as a college.
• Graduate Apprenticeships are jobs for those who are over 16 and combine paid work with an employer while completing a degree in their chosen subject linked to their apprenticeship. There are 13 Graduate Apprenticeship subjects available, all in growing sectors with great career prospects.

Find out more, including what’s available in your local area and a live vacancy search at apprenticeships.scot

Forces Families Jobs

Forces Families Jobs is an employment and training platform for Service spouses, partners and family members. It offers employers free access to a pool of talented employees of service spouses and family members whose current resource is very much untapped. You can find out more information or register at FFJ on www.ForcesFamiliesJobs.co.uk