Evaluation of the Muirhouse and Craigmillar Employment Projects in Edinburgh

In response to the high and entrenched levels of worklessness within some communities in Edinburgh, Capital City Partnership (CCP) commissioned Community Renewal to deliver two Area Focus Projects. 

• The Muirhouse project began in April 2008. 
• The Craigmillar project began in November 2008.

There was a particular focus on engaging and moving forward the large numbers on non-active benefits (such as Incapacity Benefit, Employment and Support Allowance and Income Support). This reflected the increasing policy focus on those on non-Jobseekers Allowance benefits alongside a realisation that reducing worklessness in Edinburgh would require making substantial in-roads into these groups. The Area Focus approach was designed in recognition that these clients were less likely to engage in traditional employability services
Professor Alan McGregor of The University of Glasgow’s Training and Employment Research Unit evaluated the project in 2011.