08 May 2025
Overcoming barriers to employability: SURF Awards Shared Learning Event
This free half-day SURF Awards workshop event in the Kinning Park Complex on 8th May provides an opportunity to explore successful approaches towards tackling barriers to employment facing people in Scotland. The winner and highly commended projects from the ‘Employability’ category highlighted in the 2024 SURF Awards process, will provide comment on their experiences and transferable learning.
Overview
Workshop guests will firstly hear from a project representative from the ‘Employability’ category winner DFN Project SEARCH Ninewells. Based in Dundee and delivered through a partnership, the DFN Project SEARCH programme supports young people with diverse additional needs into meaningful employment.
This will be followed by input from the ‘Employability’ highly commended Lone Parents, Poverty & Work. Led by Fife Gingerbread, the project bridges the gap between lone parents and employment, recognising that income from work is crucial in tackling child poverty.
Finally, guests will then hear from the ‘Employability’ highly commended Family Finances Key Workers. Delivered by Glasgow Life, the programme takes a person-centred approach to lifting families out of poverty by supporting parents to increase household income through sustainable employment and improved financial capability.
The event will close with a chaired panel discussion on wider policy issues, featuring the Institute of Employability Professionals (TBC) and the Scottish Government’s Developing the Young Workforce and Employability Teams (TBC).
The SURF Awards ‘Removing Barriers to Employability’ judging panel team – comprising representatives of the Third Sector Employability Forum, Young Enterprise Scotland, Scottish Government and Impact Arts – were particularly impressed by the commitment to engaging with those disconnected from employability services and the flexibility of adapting to meet the needs of each individual person.
Programme
10:00 Registration and networking
10:30 Welcome and Introduction: Euan Leitch, Chief Executive, SURF
10:35 Presentation, DFN Project SEARCH: Leanne Macdonald and Danielle Najahi, Dundee and Angus College and NHS Tayside
10:50 Presentation, Lone Parents, Poverty & Work: Louise Park and Laura Millar, Fife Gingerbread
11:00 Presentation, Family Finances Key Workers: Marlene Bryceland, Glasgow Life
11:10 Questions and Comments with project representatives
11:30 Policy Panel Discussion:
- TBC,IEP
- TBC, Scottish Government
11.50 SURF Manifesto – Call for feedback: Euan Leitch, SURF
12:05 Summary, Thanks and What’s Next: Euan Leitch and Emma Scott, Events, Information & Communications Manager, SURF
12:15 Close and Networking Lunch
About the SURF Awards
Please visit www.surf.scot for more information on the SURF Awards and the outcomes of the 2024 process.
Check the SURF website for information on how to apply for the 2025 SURF Awards, which will launch on Thursday 5th June and close for applications at 5pm on Monday 1st September.
