Edinburgh Napier University

  The project involved new research, investigating barriers preventing SMEs from recruiting from disadvantaged groups (especially unemployed/inactive parents, who represent an underutilized source of labour within the Scottish economy) and identifying good practice in overcoming these barriers. The research identified how recruitment and training strategies within certain SMEs, and government training policies aimed at improving the employability of disadvantaged parents (such as the Scottish Executive's Working for Families programme), have contributed to breaking down barriers, enabling SMEs to recruit more effectively and from a larger pool of labour, and helping disadvantaged parents to develop the skills that SMEs want.