Oil and Gas Transition Training Fund - Equality Impact Assessment

Executive summary

This EQIA has considered the potential impact of the Oil and Gas Transition Training Fund on oil and gas (O&G) workers and associated supply chain workers with protected characteristics who may apply for the fund. This EQIA has also considered potential impacts on the diversity landscape within the O&G sector and sectors where workers may move into, known as ‘destination’ sectors. This scope reflects the Scottish Government’s responsibility for the design of the fund and engagement with our delivery partner, Skills Development Scotland (SDS).

Evidence gathered through desk-based research and stakeholder consultation has found that this fund will have a positive impact across all (in scope) protected characteristics. Whilst recognizing the limited reach of a fund based on direct support for individuals who choose to access the service, some additional recommendations were made as part of this EQIA to further advance equality of opportunity for applicants to the fund. These include:

• Ensuring the application process is inclusive with alternative routes to apply should the web portal not be suitable.
• Providing an exceptions process to ensure individuals who have been out of the oil and gas workforce due to a protected characteristic for longer than two years are not excluded.
• Ensuring communications are inclusive and signpost those with protected characteristics to the support available.
• Emphasising a principal of continuous improvement within a monitoring approach that will consider protected characteristics during delivery.
• Keeping the wider policy landscape under review during delivery.