Workplace Equality
The Scottish Government is committed to addressing long standing barriers in the labour market so that everyone - irrespective of gender, race or disability - has the opportunity to fulfil their potential and improve Scotland's economic performance as a result.
Workplace Equality Fund
The Workplace Equality Fund was originally set up in 2018 to address long standing barriers in the labour market so that everyone - irrespective of gender, race or disability - has the opportunity to fulfil their potential and improve Scotland's economic performance as a result. Our previous Workplace Equality Fund 2018/19 resulted in 22 projects receiving funding totalling £750,000.
We encouraged applications that focused on overcoming long standing and systemic issues with recruitment practices and progression in the workplace, particularly in relation to addressing inequalities faced by minority ethnic people, women, disabled people and older workers.
In 2019/2020, the Workplace Equality Fund continued to focus on supporting minority ethnic people, women, disabled people and older workers, and also supported women transitioning though the menopause, victims of domestic abuse, and workers who are experiencing social isolation and loneliness (such as unpaid carers).
In 2020/21, these funds offered immediate support to equality groups in the current Covid-19 environment and ensure that work to promote and embed workplace equality continues so that equality groups are not further disadvantaged in the labour market as a result of the effects of Covid-19.
Please note that the application period for the Workplace Equality Fund 20/21 closed at midnight on Wednesday 2nd December. We will no longer be accepting any applications for funding.
The table below lists the projects being funded under the Workplace Equality Fund 2020/21
Projects Funded Under the Workplace Equality Fund 20/21
Organisation |
Name of Project |
Geographical Location |
Equality Group |
Cost |
CEMVO Enterprises CIC
|
Ethnic Minority Workforce Development Project |
Nationwide |
Minority Ethnic workers |
£25,282.00
|
West of Scotland Regional Equality Council (WSREC) |
E-POW (Equality Performance Observed in the Workplace) |
West of Scotland |
Minority Ethnic workers |
£13,978.00
|
Centrestage Communities Ltd
|
RECONNECT
|
East Ayrshire and Ayrshire
|
Older workers (those aged 50 and over); Disabled Workers; Women; Workers experiencing social isolation and loneliness; Workers who have experienced or suffered domestic abuse; Workers from an SIMD area |
£26,558.00
|
Women's Enterprise Scotland
|
WES Digital Leaders
|
Nationwide |
Minority Ethnic workers; Older workers (those aged 50 and over); Women; Workers from a rural area |
£31,470
|
PATH (Scotland)
|
Positive Moves in Health and Employment |
Glasgow |
Minority Ethnic workers
|
£17,479
|
Age Scotland
|
Age-Inclusive Workplaces Engagement Media |
Nationwide |
Older workers (those aged 50 and over)
|
£42,171
|
Intercultural Youth Scotland
|
Restless Natives Employer Support
|
Edinburgh |
Minority Ethnic workers; Women; Workers experiencing social isolation and loneliness; Workers who have experienced or suffered domestic abuse; Workers from an SIMD area |
£30,000
|
Scottish Union of Supported Employment |
Inclusive Workplace 2021
|
Nationwide |
Disabled Workers
|
£26,224.68
|
Deaf Action
|
Deaf Action Employability
|
Edinburgh |
Older workers (those aged 50 and over); Disabled Workers; Workers experiencing social isolation and loneliness; Workers from a rural area; Workers from an SIMD area |
£26,006*
|
Construction Scotland Innovation Centre
|
DIveIN
|
Nationwide |
Minority Ethnic workers; Disabled Workers; Women; Workers from a rural area; Workers from an SIMD area |
£11,383.00
|
Inclusion Scotland
|
Unlocking 'Employerability' in the Private Sector |
Nationwide |
Disabled Workers
|
£42,802
|
Glasgow Centre for Inclusive Living
|
Developing Best Practice with Positive Attitudes |
Nationwide |
Disabled Workers
|
£43,500
|
Total |
£336,853.68 |
*This figure includes £1,300 additional funding to allow the opportunity to provide additional training due to oversubscription of original training programme.
Further Support for Workplace Equality
The following table provides an overview of additional projects supporting Workplace Equality:
Organisation |
Name of Project |
Geographical Location |
Equality Group |
Cost |
Genanalytics Ltd |
Building the foundations for women returners at Standard Life Aberdeen: A sustainable approach |
Edinburgh |
TBC |
£30,000 |
Borders College |
GROW - Gaining Rewards and Opportunities for Work |
Scottish Borders |
Older workers (those aged 50 and over); Workers experiencing social isolation and loneliness; Workers from a rural area; Workers from an SIMD area |
£13,000 |
Transport Scotland |
Civ Tech Challenge 10 - how to support connections when working remotely |
Nationwide |
All workers |
£50,000 |
Clackmannanshire Council
|
Clackmannanshire Women's Voices |
Clackmannanshire
|
Women |
£10,000 |
Ceteris (Scotland) Ltd |
ClacksWISE 2021 Women into Self-Employment |
Clackmannanshire
|
Women |
£3,000 |
Alloa Community Enterprises |
Wevolution |
Clackmannanshire
|
Women |
£2,500 |
Capital City Partnership |
Women Returners' Listening and Coaching Service
|
Edinburgh |
Women; Workers experiencing social isolation and loneliness; Workers who have experienced or suffered domestic abuse |
£17,500 |
Lantra |
Support for Women in the Rural Economy |
Nationwide (Focus on remote and rural areas) |
Women; Workers from a rural area |
£120,000 |