The Angus Participant Recruitment Programme (PRP) is designed to help create good quality jobs that support a greener, fairer, and more inclusive labour market.

PRPs play an important role in supporting those with the greatest barriers to employment, to enable them to obtain and receive the support they need whilst in employment to sustain work. To help the participant and employer achieve this, PRP is a keyworker-led programme, with the keyworker providing in-work support to both parties throughout the initial 52 weeks of employment.

PRPs have been developed to integrate and link fully with existing skills and employability programmes and are available to use as a contribution to the additional costs of recruiting and sustaining eligible individuals in employment. PRPs can be utilised in several ways such as for additional supervisory costs, training and development, initial travel to work costs, specialist in work support, etc.

PRPs will provide and protect employment opportunities for those with the greatest barriers to employment, to enable people to obtain and remain in sustainable employment. It will support local people, employers and a fairer and more inclusive labour market.

As an employer receiving PRP support, you have a commitment to invest in and improve outcomes for individuals. All employers in receipt of a PRP should promote and embed fair work in line with the Fair Work First Guidance. In order to do so, we ask employers to complete and sign our Angus Council Employer’s Commitment.

PRP Objectives

PRP aims to positively contribute to a fairer more inclusive economy and to help address many of the deep-seated challenges of inequality and disadvantage within the Scottish labour market.

How does the fund work?

To be eligible for funding, all employers must already be paying all their staff the Real Living Wage.

Angus Council will pay the fund directly to employers on an instalment basis.

New employees must not start the post until funding is agreed.

For a job to be eligible for funding it must:

• be a new role in the organisation, not to cover sickness/maternity or a redundant post
• offer a minimum of 52 weeks employment
• have a contract of employment i.e. permanent contract, a fixed term contract for 52 weeks or more
• employees must receive a written contract of employment within 4 weeks of starting (we will need a copy of this)

Who can I employ?

You can employ someone who meets the following criteria:

• A resident of Angus
• Not in employment, education or training
• Aged between 16-67
• Meets one or more of the following barriers to employment criteria:
  • Long Term Unemployed (minimum of 12 months)
  • Disabled, or experiencing physical or mental health conditions which inhibit access to work

What does the fund offer?

The fund offers an employer a tiered amount of up to £6,000 over a period of 52 weeks for up to two employees.

This is based on the contracted hours for each employee as shown below:

• A job with up to 25 contracted hours per week, paid at an hourly rate no less than the Real Living Wage – £3,000
• A job with more than 25 contracted hours per week, paid at an hourly rate no less than the Real Living Wage – £6,000

How do we pay the grant funding?

Please see payment schedule below:

Contact us

You can contact a Skills Adviser by calling 01307 492039. The team can also be contacted via email on skillsteam@angus.gov.uk.