Greater Customer Reach

The Greater Customer Reach (GCR) work stream contributes to Edinburgh’s Jobs Strategy stretching targets by engaging with priority groups and individuals beyond current levels. The operational plan gives details of our work in this area.

Priority groups have been identified as those facing particular barriers in moving along the pathway to employment, and for each of these groups an action plan has been devised to ensure progress towards overcoming those barriers. The priority groups have been identified as:

Care Leavers

Each year around 600 young people between the ages of 16 and 21 are entitled to aftercare having spent at least three months in the care of the local authority. Of these around 855 are not in education and training. They face barriers of low confidence and self esteem, low educational attainment and a lack of support in seeking employment.
http://www.joinedupforjobs.org.uk/files/documents/library/CCPcareleaversummary2008.pdf 

People with Disabilities

There are around 50,000 people of working age in the city who have a physical disability, learning difficulty or a mental health problem within a wide spectrum of conditions and severity. Almost 50% of these are not in employment, facing negative employer attitudes, transport issues and fear of losing benefits in a complex system.
http://www.joinedupforjobs.org.uk/files/documents/library/CCPdisabilitiessummary2008.pdf  

Ethnic Minorities

The term 'ethnic minority' is mainly used to denote people who are in the minority within a defined population on the grounds of 'race', colour, culture, language or nationality. They may face difficulties gaining recognition of their qualifications, discrimination from employers and lack of knowledge of support systems.
http://www.joinedupforjobs.org.uk/files/documents/library/CCPethnicminoritiessummary2008.pdf 

People with a History of Substance Misuse

There are an estimated 8000 people in the city who have a pattern of harmful use of substances, generally drugs and/or alcohol, and of these up to 70% are unemployed. A significant proportion of those with such a history suffer mental and behavioural problems as a result of substance misuse. They face many barriers in getting employment including stigma, ill health, lack of qualifications and possible criminal record.  Further information links to http://www.joinedupforjobs.org.uk/files/documents/library/CCPhistoryofsubstanceabusesummary2008.pdf

Homeless People

There are an estimated 5000 homeless people in Edinburgh and of them only 400 are in work. As well as many social and educational factors the lack of a stable address makes finding work difficult.
http://www.joinedupforjobs.org.uk/files/documents/library/CCPhomelesssummary2008.pdf 

Lone Parents

There are an estimated 12,000 families headed by lone parents in the city. Mainly clustered in the most deprived communities and around half are not working. The lack of affordable childcare is a large factor as is the benefit trap.
http://www.joinedupforjobs.org.uk/files/documents/library/CCPloneparentsummary2008.pdf 

Young People not in Education, Employment or Training

The number of 16-19 year olds in Edinburgh leaving school without going on to education, employment or training is growing as a result of the current recession. Many national and local initiatives are in place to redress that, and to limit the possibility of a “lost generation” who move into adulthood without employment.
http://www.joinedupforjobs.org.uk/files/documents/library/CCPneetsummary2008.pdf 

Prison Leavers

Each year around 2000 people leave prison to live in Edinburgh and while we have no available statistics of their employment status we know that many will experience discrimination from employers and will face further barriers in sustaining work such as substance misuse, mental ill health and poor educational attainment. http://www.joinedupforjobs.org.uk/files/documents/library/CCPprisonleaversummary2008.pdf 

Asylum Seekers/Refugees

There are around 1000 refugees/asylum seekers in Edinburgh and although we have no exact figures, the vast majority are not in paid employment. Many are not legally entitled to work in this country and poor knowledge of English is another hurdle to employment.
http://www.joinedupforjobs.org.uk/files/documents/library/CCPrefugeeasylumseekersummary2008.pdf