Advance (Enable Scotland (Leading the Way))

Advance, part of the Blended Employability Service, is an in-work employment support service delivered by a consortium of Enable Scotland (lead partner), The Action Group and Forth Sector. The service supports clients who are:

• Experiencing in-work poverty, by supporting progression and upskilling to progress within their roles and in line with career aspirations.
• At risk of losing their job, by offering advice and support to both the client and the employer to retain employment.
• With career change for clients who want new jobs and support them to gain a new position and provide appropriate support in the new job.
• With crisis management – where an employer or client is experiencing difficulties in relation to performance, attendance or disciplinary. We act as a support and intermediary to resolve the situation quickly.

As well as the in-work support element of the service, there is also an income maximisation service which supports clients to ensure they are accessing all benefits they are entitled to while in-work. The service operates as part of the Strategic Skills Pipeline in Edinburgh, adopting a holistic, ‘no wrong door’ approach and ensuring any service user who accesses the service receives a direct suitable service, or a managed referral to another more suitable service provision.

As part of this service, Advance support the delivery of FUSE, which assists employers in the St James Centre and surrounding Essential Edinburgh Business Improvement District with their recruitment.