07 May 2026
Removing barriers to employability: SURF Awards Shared Learning Workshop
SURF and the Scottish Government work together to identify and highlight excellence and innovation in initiatives that address social and economic challenges in disadvantaged communities through the annual SURF Awards for Best Practice in Community Regeneration.
Overview
This free half-day SURF Awards workshop event in the Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh on 7th May provides an opportunity to explore successful approaches towards tackling barriers to employment facing people in Scotland. The winner and a highly commended project from the ‘Employability’ category highlighted in the 2025 SURF Awards process, will provide comment on their experiences and transferable learning.
Workshop guests will firstly hear from a project representative from the ‘Employability’ category winner What I Need In Life (WIN). Delivered by Routes to Work South, WIN offers an alternative employability pathway, with access to a broad spectrum of support delivered by an established network of partners.
This will be followed by input from the ‘Employability’ highly commended Family Approach. Led by Fife Gingerbread, the project provides holistic, whole family support to vulnerable communities. The support is flexible, relationship-based, and tailored to each unique family’s needs.
The event will close with a chaired panel discussion on wider policy issues, featuring ng homes and the Scottish Government.
The SURF Awards ‘Removing Barriers to Employability’ judging panel team – comprising representatives of the Third Sector Employability Forum, ng homes, Scottish Government and Clyde Gateway – 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, WIN: Nicola McNaughtan, Routes to Work South
10:50 Presentation, Family Approach: Angela Campbell, Fife Gingerbread
11:00 Questions and Comments with project representatives
11:30 Policy Panel Discussion:
- John Devine,ng homes
- TBC, Scottish Government
12:05 Summary, Thanks and What’s Next: Euan Leitch and Emma Scott, Awards & Communications Manager, SURF
12:15 Close and Networking Lunch
You can read more about the 2025 SURF Award projects in the SURF Awards Publication.
For event enquires please email emma@surf.scot
