Funding support for employers

We want to ensure that supporting the Edinburgh Guarantee is rewarding for you and your organisation, both by helping you to access new talent and providing resources to help you recruit. There is a variety of options for you to receive funding support which can be used to help with recruitment, training and salary costs for new starts.

Eligibility for funding can depend on who you are hiring, the size of your organisation and if the role is being newly created. Find out more about funding opportunities you could be eligible for below.

Edinburgh’s Employer Recruitment Incentives (EERI)

You can apply for funding to help with the costs of recruiting and employing someone with additional barriers to employment who fits the eligibility criteria. The fund can provide up to £8,000 for newly created jobs or vacancies. You can use the fund to help with the costs of recruiting and keeping a person in employment, including an apprenticeship, for up to 52 weeks. 

Innovation Grants

You can apply for an innovation grant if you are a small or medium-size business, social enterprise or third-sector organisation. The Innovation Voucher provides up to £7,500 towards the academic costs of introducing a new business element or streamlining current internal processes.

Integrated Employer Engagement (IEE) Employer Fund

This fund supports business who have been trading between 12-36 months and who are looking to grow their business. It can provide a small grant fund of £500-£1,000 per business to assist with job growth, stability or creation and is available across the Edinburgh and South East Scotland region.

The Integrated Employer Engagement team work with Business Gateway to identify funding gaps needs.

Foundation, Modern and Graduate Apprenticeships

Skills Development Scotland can assist you with the academic cost of hiring an apprentice. Funding will depend on the age of the apprentice, qualification level and apprenticeship sector.