Just lost your job? Need some support and advice?
Introduction
Biggar High School has, as part of our core vision, the care of families and our community at its heart. We work with our partners in Skills Development Scotland (SDS) to support our young people into employment, through apprenticeships and permanent employment, as well as Further and Higher Education every day.
In the current economic climate, many of our families also face unstable employment opportunities, and very often this includes being made redundant.
We are here to help. Our partners at Skills Development Scotland (SDS) have dedicated resources to help you find employment for the first time, or to get back into employment after a period of redundancy or unemployment.
The first piece of advice we can offer is to sign up on the My World of Work website, run by SDS at. You simply register and this site takes you through lots of different supportive stages and strategies.
Support is offered, free and in confidence, by …
PACE
This support is available via PACE (Partnership Action for Continuing Employment) a Scottish Government initiative which brings together a range of organisations who each offer services to assist those in a redundancy situation. All services are free and confidential.
The following PACE services are available
- Information on accessing benefits and Jobcentre Plus vacancy service
- Individual Career Guidance interview to assist in identifying redundancy transition options
- CV and Interview Skills support
- Labour market Information and job search assistance
- Welfare Rights advice
- Tax and money advice
- Information on Training and Learning opportunities and accessing funding
- Information on setting up your own business
- Literacy and numeracy support
Below is a link to youtube which explains what PACE offers. If it does not play, go to the link at
PACE can offer support online via the My World of Work website at: https://www.myworldofwork.co.uk/
Go to the website to see what PACE can offer at: https://www.myworldofwork.co.uk/how-pace-services-can-support-you#advice
Benefits
You can also find out about benefits you may be entitled to at: https://www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators
Universal Credit
You may have to submit a claim for Universal Credit at: https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit
If you need help making a claim online contact the Universal Credit helpline on
0800 328 5644 or textphone 0800 328 1344.
Managing Your Finances
You may need some support in managing your finances at a time when your income is likely to be affected by redundancy or uncertainty. Support is available from the Money and Pension service at
Mental Health Support
You may need some time to reflect and think about your own Mental Health and wellbeing and the NHS Inform site is a good signpost of support.
https://www.nhsinform.scot/healthy-living/mental-wellbeing
Citizens Advice Bureaux
The Citizens Advice Bureaux also offer free, confidential advice and support and can be found locally at
and their national website is at
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/scotland/
Current Vacancies
You can look for current vacancies and tailor your search to suit your own needs on the following websites
https://www.myworldofwork.co.uk/jobhub
https://www.gov.uk/contact-jobcentre-plus
https://www.myworldofwork.co.uk/getting-a-job
https://www.myworldofwork.co.uk/job-hunting
Job Hub
Positive Steps
SDS provide lots of guidance and advice at
Anyone who would like to speak with a careers adviser for career guidance, to discuss retraining or for support with job seeking, CVs or interviews can contact SDS via the redundancy helpline 0800 917 8000
There are lots of support provided by SDS, from creating a CV to practise for interviews. Have a look on their website pages below
https://www.myworldofwork.co.uk/myinterviewtool/start
https://www.myworldofwork.co.uk/getting-job/building-cv
https://www.myworldofwork.co.uk/application-forms
Interviews
You may wish to upskill at this time and there are many free online courses you can apply for at
https://www.myworldofwork.co.uk/learn-and-train/find-free-online-courses
Skills Development Scotland is a one-stop shop to help you get back into employment or indeed should you think of a career change. They are funded by the Scottish Government and their services are free and confidential.