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Client Recruitment Incentive

The Client Recruitment Incentive (CRI) helps employers in Aberdeenshire create job opportunities for parents and the long-term unemployed. This incentive aims to support employers to offer fair, inclusive and sustainable employment.

CRI is funded by the Scottish Government's No One Left Behind programme and administered by the council.

Eligibility and criteria

This incentive is for employers who want to hire someone who meets the criteria. To qualify, the employee must live within Aberdeenshire and be one of the following:

  • A parent
  • Aged 16 to 24 and unemployed for 6 months or more
  • Aged 25+ and unemployed for 12 months or more

Employer responsibilities

The employer must:

Please note cash payment of wages don't meet audit requirements and should not be made.

Job requirements

The job must:

  • Last at least 52 weeks
  • Be between 16 to 30 hours per week, paid at the Real Living Wage (employers must pay for any extra hours or higher hourly rates)
  • Start before 30th September 2025

Support for employer and employees

Employers who take part will get support from a keyworker for the first 52 weeks of the job placement. The keyworker will help both the employee and employer, and support can include:

  • Confidence building
  • Basic IT training
  • Workplace communication
  • Time management skills
  • Guidance on navigating workplace culture 

Keyworkers also stay in regular contact to help resolve any issues early and make sure the job placement is successful.

Funding available

CRI covers wage costs for the first 26 weeks of employment, for:

  • Parents: 100% of costs are covered
  • Long-term unemployed: 75% of costs are covered

In both cases, the employer must then cover the full wage costs for the remaining 26 weeks.

How to apply

The deadline for applications is 30th September 2025.

To apply complete the forms available in two formats:

If you aren't able to meet Fair Work First criteria complete the Fair Work exemption form (DOCX 28KB).

Submit completed forms to employmentsupportteam@aberdeenshire.gov.uk. 

View the CRI privacy notice (PDF 220KB) to find out what we do with your information.

What happens next

Your application will be assessed by the council's Employment Support Team.

If approved we will issue you with a grant agreement. This will have details of the grant terms and conditions.

Grants are paid quarterly in arrears. To evidence wage payments. employers must submit the following for each quarter:

  • A claim form (we will issue claim forms once the grant agreement is in place)
  • Payslips
  • Business bank statements

Please note we are required to record job and employee details in our system, including:

  • Information from your application
  • Client registration details
  • Evidence to support grant payments (such as payslips and bank statements)

Contact

If you have any queries please contact employmentsupportteam@aberdeenshire.gov.uk, or phone 01467 533058.