BDA's Employability Services

Renfrewshire Employability Grants Programme (REGP) supports unemployed, economically inactive and low paid people to move towards, into, and within work.

BDA helps people to start a new business and access discretionary grants and business loans.  This includes support for people to research their business idea and develop a viable business plan.  Training and regular one-to-one meetings with an experienced business adviser is followed by business mentoring for up to a year.  To find out more about REGP visit the Invest in Renfrewshire website or contact us.

Employability Fund for Self-Employment and Training for Work Self-Employment.

These were Skills Development Scotland (SDS) programmes delivered by BDA in several areas.

SDS is the government body that works with learning and skills organisations to strengthen Scotland’s sustainable, economic development. BDA, through the Employability Fund and its predecessor Training for Work, partnered with SDS to help many clients build successful careers working for themselves.

The services were delivered in coordination with local Jobcentre Plus offices who referred Jobseekers to our tailored training programmes.  Trainees met with their own, named Business Adviser and were given help and advice, plus they attended our group training sessions and online webinars, whilst still eligible to continue receiving their benefits.

New Deal for Self-Employment

BDA partnered directly with DWP for a number of years to deliver the DWP's Self-Employment option within their New Deal programme.  As with the SDS programmes above, BDA worked very closely with local Jobcentre Plus partners to identify people who benefitted from the support available.