New RISE-funded partnership aims to help parents and carers increase household income through learning, enterprise and employment opportunities
Three Tay Cities colleges have joined forces to deliver an ambitious new programme aimed at helping parents and carers gain the skills, confidence and opportunities needed to increase household income and build a fresh start for their families. Supported through RISE (Raising Income through Skills and Education) funding, the partnership brings together Fife College, Dundee & Angus College, UHI Perth and KTG Impact Associates in a shared regional effort to tackle poverty through learning, enterprise and employment.
Funded through the Scottish Government's RISE programme, the initiative is focused on supporting low-income parents and carers who face barriers to employment, education and progression. By creating practical pathways into learning, enterprise and better-paid work, the partnership aims to help families across the Tay Cities region build a more secure future and create lasting improvements in household income.
The partnership will deliver the Foundation Enterprise Skills Programme across all three colleges, creating a shared regional approach that reflects the collaborative vision of the RISE programme. Participants will take part in practical, supportive learning experiences designed to build confidence, strengthen employability and enterprise skills, and provide pathways into further education, employment and self-employment.
The programme is specifically designed for parents and carers who may be disengaged from learning or work and who often face significant challenges in progressing into employment. Food, childcare support and ongoing guidance will be provided throughout to help remove barriers to participation and ensure learners can fully engage with the opportunity.
Across the three colleges, the programme is expected to engage around 120 parents and carers during its first year, creating pathways into further learning, employment and enterprise opportunities while generating valuable evidence to support future expansion across Scotland.
Alongside the Foundation Enterprise Skills Programme, Dundee & Angus College will pilot the innovative Urban Den enterprise incubator developed by KTG Impact Associates. The 14-week programme will support aspiring community enterprise start-ups and learners to transform ideas into viable business opportunities through practical enterprise learning, mentoring and real-world trading experiences.
Led by Kirsty Thomson-Gillespie, founder of The Circle, KTG Impact Associates and More Than Profit ® the programmes are designed to create sustainable routes into increased income through employment, self-employment and enterprise.
Jim Metcalfe, Principal of Fife College, said:
"Returning to learning can be daunting, especially when you are juggling family life and have been told, or have told yourself, that it isn't for you. By joining forces with our partner colleges across the Tay Cities region, we can help parents and carers in Fife and beyond build new skills, grow in confidence and recognise just how much they have to offer."
Simon Hewitt, Principal of Dundee & Angus College, said:
"At Dundee & Angus College, we know that education and skills can genuinely change lives, but we also know that for many people taking that first step into college can feel a long way away.
That’s why this partnership matters. By working collectively across the Tay Cities region, we can take opportunities closer to families and communities, remove some of the barriers that can get in the way, and help people build the confidence and skills they need to move forward.
For us, this is about much more than delivering a programme. It is about helping parents and carers increase their opportunities, improve their household income and create a more secure future for themselves and their families. That is exactly the kind of difference colleges should be making."
Catherine Etri, UHI Perth Interim Principal said:
"Through this partnership, we are creating practical pathways that help parents and carers gain the confidence, skills and opportunities needed to improve their circumstances and build a more secure future for their families and communities."
Kirsty Thomson-Gillespie KTG Impact said:
"Too many parents and carers face barriers that prevent them from accessing opportunities that could improve their family's circumstances. Through this partnership we are creating supportive, practical routes into learning, enterprise and employment that can genuinely change lives. This is about unlocking potential, strengthening communities and creating lasting change across the Tay Cities region. Our ambition is not only to help individuals increase their income, but also to create a model that can be replicated across Scotland."
The initiative will work closely with community organisations and referral partners across the region to engage families who are often furthest from education and employment. Existing referral networks include organisations supporting families and communities throughout Dundee, Fife and Perthshire, ensuring that those who could benefit most are able to access the programme.
The first cohorts are expected to begin during the 2026/27 academic year, creating a pathway from confidence-building and foundational enterprise skills through to employment, self-employment and business creation opportunities.
- The programme is funded through the RISE (Raising Income through Skills and Education) initiative.
- Delivery partners include KTG Impact Associates, Dundee & Angus College, Fife College and UHI Perth.
- The Foundation Enterprise Skills Programme supports parents and carers facing barriers to employment, learning or progression.
- The Urban Den programme is a 14-week enterprise incubator designed to support progression into self-employment and enterprise activity and build opportunities across Scotland’s High Streets.