This funding aims to transition approximately 7,500 individuals currently furthest from the labour market into stable employment, while providing thousands more with essential qualifications.

Initiatives will include:

• A £40m package to help parents most at risk of poverty into jobs and training courses
• Investment of £5m in specialist services to help disabled people access and sustain meaningful employment
• £39m for No One Left Behind to support people furthest from work towards employment

Ms Forbes also announced a major marketing campaign providing parents with advice to help them get back into work.

Visiting McTaggart Construction, a business which provides on-site training to help people into work as part of the Scottish Government’s No One Left Behind approach, Ms Forbes said:

“Our employability services are helping people into work who may otherwise face barriers to employment due to factors such as illness, disability or simply taking time out to have a family.  With the involvement of employers like McTaggart Construction, we are building people’s confidence and providing access to new skills.

“Tackling economic inactivity is a win-win situation - it boosts the economy and tackles child poverty by providing families with a secure income – and our £90 million Budget commitment will enable more people to access employment support.”

Liam Long, a new dad secured training and then a full-time job at McTaggart Construction with the support of No One Left Behind services after being out-of-work due to a period of illness, said:

“Coming through the All in Glasgow programme and First Step Future Training gave me the opportunity to get my foot in the door. That placement opened the door to a permanent role with McTaggart Construction.

“I’ve just become a dad, and the two weeks’ paternity pay meant everything to me. I’m proud to work for a company that genuinely invests in its people and supports them through moments in life.”