Our first Scottish Employability Event, hosted by Action Foundation in partnership with the Scottish Government and Open Door North East was a resounding success. The event connected internationally displaced care workers supported by our Employability Project with Scottish care providers and the results were amazing with 35 job seekers receiving immediate offers of employment!
Scotland faces a growing demand for care workers and many displaced individuals are eager for safe, legal employment opportunities. This event was designed to bring those two communities together.
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Vanessa Montesi, our Language & Learning Manager, explained:
“This initiative met a critical demand for care workers in Scotland while creating life-changing opportunities for people seeking stability and inclusion.”
Care providers shared their vacancies with us and candidates applied through Action Foundation and Open Door North East. Our team and the North East ADASS handled the matching process and took care of all the admin and communication behind the scenes.
On the day, 46 care workers connected with 10 care providers. The morning featured two interactive workshops led by a care company, giving employers the chance to see candidates’ skills in action. In the afternoon, interviews took place and by the end of the event, offers were rolling in. Within two working days, candidates were confirming their new roles.
Positive feedback
Feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Attendees praised the event for its valuable opportunities, practical guidance and confidence boosting, as well as the chance to meet supportive employers. Many highlighted the quality of the sessions and the dedication of the organisers.
One job seeker said:
“The event provided valuable opportunities for me as a job seeker. It taught me how teamwork functions and gave me useful knowledge, support, and guidance that will benefit me in my life. I am grateful for the experience and feel truly overwhelmed in a positive way by the support I received.”
Vanessa added: “Having successfully delivered the first event of this kind, and given the high success rate, we believe similar events can be organised again in the future. We hope for the Scottish Employability Event to become a regular, bi-yearly activity at Action Foundation and to connect with local care providers to arrange similar events to connect care workers with regional opportunities as well.”
Some care workers told us how eye-opening it was to meet others in similar circumstances. In response, we’re planning to start a monthly care worker meet-up at our Interaction Drop-In service.
How to Get Involved
Are you a care provider interested in participating in future events?
Please contact [email protected] – we’d love to hear from you!
