Welcome to Scotland: A guide for Service personnel and their families in Scotland - updated 2024

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 My World of Work website.

You can also find details of your closest SDS career centre on the My World of Work website.

You can also access specific and dedicated information and assistance for Armed Forces veterans and leavers on the Skills Development Scotland website.

No One Left Behind

No One Left Behind supports those transitioning out of military services and their families, to deliver a local place-based approach to facilitate easier alignment of employability support with existing local level support services. Employability support is aligned with other support services including housing, health, justice and advice services to ensure that individuals can access the holistic packages of support that they need to move towards, into and to sustain employment. Individuals are assigned a key worker who will identify support needs and ensure they receive the right support at the right time.

No One Left Behind is delivered locally through Local Employability Partnerships (LEPs) who have responsibility for, and ensure provision meets with local labour market and demographic needs.

You can find more information and contact details for your Local Authority on the Employability in Scotland website.

Fair Start Scotland

Referrals to Fair Start Scotland will cease at the end of March 2024. Anyone who has joined and remains on the service by that point will continue to receive full employability support delivered by Fair Start Scotland providers. All new referrals will be supported by No One Left Behind local services from April 2024 onwards.

Going Forward into Employment

Going Forward into Employment (GFIE) is a scheme which provides civil service employment to specified groups with exemptions, by allowing suitably qualified people to be offered posts without having to compete in the usual way.

The Scottish Government is proud to participate in the GFIE programme that supports military veterans who have left service within the last 5 years or who have left service within the last 10 years seriously injured, as well as spouses or partners of either those veterans or currently serving personnel( your current partner must still be serving or must have been discharged within the last 12 months).

Roles are initially offered on a temporary basis for up to 23 months and may potentially be converted to permanent after 12 months, subject to the individual passing an assessment for a permanent role.

Scottish Government GFIE roles will be posted to Forces Families Jobs. For more information on the GFIE scheme please email help@forcesfamiliesjobs.co.uk.

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 here.

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 gov.uk website.

You can find further information surrounding the support services available here.

Non-UK veterans, service personnel and family members from all Services having issues proving their right to work due to their immigration status should contact the Army Families Federation or Navy Families Federation’s qualified immigration advisors on fcsupport@aff.org.uk or immigration@nff.org.uk.

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 work-based learning opportunities for senior-phase secondary school pupils. Lasting one or two years, pupils can begin their Foundation Apprenticeship in S5 or S6. Young people spend time out of school at college or with a local employer enabling them to complete the Foundation Apprenticeship alongside their other subjects like National 5s and Highers. Completion leads to a qualification at the same level of learning as a Higher. Foundation Apprenticeships are recognised as entry qualifications by all Scottish Colleges and universities.
• Modern Apprenticeships are jobs for people over 16 who have left school. This type of apprenticeship enables you to get paid, whilst learning on the job. You get the experience you need whilst working towards an accredited qualification which is recognised by industry with the support of a training provider who works with the business.
• Graduate Apprenticeships are jobs for those who are over 16 and provide work-based learning opportunities up to master’s degree level for new and existing employees. The apprenticeships combine academic knowledge with skills development to enable participants to become more effective and productive in the workplace.

Forces Families Jobs

Forces Families Jobs is the tri-Service Families Federations’ online employment and training platform for family members of currently serving UK military personnel. Forces Families Jobs connects families with employers and organisations who are Forces family friendly. To find out more, look for jobs, career advice and training opportunities, visit www.forcesfamiliesjobs.co.uk.

Volunteering

There are thousands of charities across Scotland who are looking for volunteers to get involved and make a difference. If you would like help to volunteer or to find organisations in your area please get in touch with your local Third Sector Interface (TSI) / Volunteer Centre who will be happy to offer you advice about volunteering. They are in each area of Scotland: one for each local authority.

Find your local TSI details here or search for volunteering opportunities on the Volunteering Scotland website.

NHS Scotland Careers

NHS Scotland provide recruitment support for veterans and spouses and partners of Armed Forces personnel. Their website includes information on available opportunities, the recruitment process and how to apply, and can be accessed on the NHS Careers website.