Employability Service

Local Employability Partnership Grant Scheme 2025/26

Applications have opened for the Local Employability Partnership Grant Scheme, which is targeted at:

  • unemployed and economically inactive residents of any age who need assistance to overcome barriers to entering the labour market
  • parents who are unemployed or on low incomes, addressing what is locally known as child poverty.   

The funding is being allocated from the Scottish Government’s No One Left Behind grant and the UK Shared Prosperity People and Skills Fund. The aim is to: 

  • help unemployed and economically inactive individuals transition into employment
  • enhance job readiness across the Borders. 

Funding is also available for applications focused on sector-based training and upskilling to meet the needs of employers in targeted sectors, such as healthcare, early years, hospitality, retail, information technology and construction. 

Key outcomes

Key outcomes that the scheme aims to achieve include:

  • reducing levels of child poverty by supporting parents, particularly those from the priority family groups, to increase their income from employment
  • supporting unemployed people of all ages to overcome barriers to employment
  • supporting people with long term health conditions, mental health or disabilities to increase their health and wellbeing and progress towards employment
  • delivering sector-based training to prepare individuals for jobs in specific industries where there is strong demand for skilled workers. 

How to apply

More information about the scheme and how to apply is available as follows:

Only direct delivery costs will be considered as eligible grant expenditure.

All project work must be completed by end of March 2026.

All projects seeking support should have a minimum funding request of £10,000. 

Closing date for applications is Monday 19 May 2025.

More information

If you have any queries or would like to arrange an informal discussion about projects that might be suitable for the scheme, please email: LEP@scotborders.gov.uk