Evaluation of Fair Work First
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Overview and updates
The Scottish Government has commissioned Pye Tait Consulting to undertake a combined process and impact evaluation of Fair Work First.
The evaluation (taking place between July 2025 and June 2026) aims to understand:
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whether Fair Work First has been delivered as intended
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what the impact of Fair Work First has been on organisations and workers
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any differences in impact comparing pre- and post-conditionality (mandating of certain Fair Work First criteria) in public sector grants
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any differences in impact in public sector contracts regarding Fair Work First criteria
It also seeks to understand what has worked well, any implementation challenges and potential unintended consequences, and how these have been managed. The lessons learned will inform the future design and delivery of Fair Work First policy.
What is Fair Work First?
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Fair Work First is the Scottish Government's flagship policy for driving high quality and fair work, and workforce diversity across the labour market in Scotland. It does this by applying fair work criteria to grants, other funding, and public contracts awarded by and across the public sector, where relevant to do so.
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Through this approach, the Scottish Government is supporting employers who adopt fair working practices. The seven Fair Work First criteria are as follows:
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payment of at least the real Living Wage
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provision of appropriate channels for effective workers' voice, such as trade union recognition
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investment in workforce development
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no inappropriate use of zero hours contracts
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addressing workplace inequalities, including pay and employment gaps for disabled people, racialised minorities, women and workers aged over 50
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offering flexible and family friendly working practices for all workers from day one of employment
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opposing the use of fire and rehire practice
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These criteria seek to address particular challenges in Scotland's labour market and make a real difference to people and their communities, business and other organisations, and the economy.
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The Fair Work First approach has evolved over time from voluntary consideration to mandated compliance:
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From 14th October 2021, Fair Work First policy made it mandatory that suppliers delivering on Scottish Government contracts pay at least the real Living Wage to their workforce. Where relevant and proportionate to do so, other public bodies in Scotland can also require that their suppliers pay the real Living Wage. The current real Living Wage amount can be found via the Living Wage Scotland website here.
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From 1st July 2023, Fair Work First policy made it mandatory that payment of at least the real Living Wage, and provision of appropriate channels for workers' voice, such as trade union recognition, form conditions for accessing certain types of public sector grants. Voice exists at both collective and individual levels and – before accessing a grant - employers are expected to show how genuine and effective voice is evidenced at both levels. For organisations with fewer than 21 employees, only individual voice must be evidenced, however the collective element is still encouraged.
Who is the research aimed at?
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The evaluation is seeking input from the following groups:
Via 1:1 in-depth interviews:
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Key stakeholder organisations, including those organisations that work in partnership or collaboratively with the Scottish Government to inform the fair work agenda/Fair Work First policy
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Via tailored online surveys and (for a small subset) follow-up 1:1 in-depth interviews:
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Public sector organisations in Scotland (buyers/funders) that procure the services of third-party suppliers and/or award discretionary grants to employers
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Employers that have been awarded at least one contract and/or one grant by a public sector organisation in Scotland
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Workers (within organisations as relates to the ‘employers’ category, above)
What does the research ask about?
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The research asks for the views and opinions of those taking part, covering such topics as:
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Awareness and understanding of Fair Work First (all)
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Application of Fair Work First criteria (buyers/funders)
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Commitment to Fair Work First criteria (employers)
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Perceived contribution of Fair Work First to workplace practices (employers)
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Managing Fair Work First processes (buyers/funders/employers)
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Observable Fair Work First outcomes (employers/workers)
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Views on the future of Fair Work First (buyers/funders/employers)
Survey questionnaires should take no more than 15-20 minutes to complete. They include a mix of structured questions (e.g. multiple-choice, rating scale) and open-ended questions.
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In-depth (1:1) interviews comprise fully open-ended questions.
Participation in the research is entirely voluntary.​
How will you use my data?
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All views and responses will be treated confidentially and anonymously by Pye Tait Consulting to inform a written evaluation report. No individual or organisation will be identified for their views. If you are responding as a member of the workforce, we will not tell your employer that you responded or what you said.
Once finalised, the evaluation report will be published on the Scottish Government’s website.
Any personal data you provide as part of this research will be: stored securely; treated confidentially in line with UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018; only used for the purposes stated in the research tools; and deleted within six months of the evaluation’s completion.
More information regarding how your data will be protected is set out in Pye Tait Consulting’s Participant Privacy Notice – available here.
WORKERS' ZONE​
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An important role of this evaluation is to identify if Fair Work First is making a difference for individual workers. Specifically, this means workers of an organisation that has been awarded a contract and/or a grant from a public sector organisation in Scotland. The findings will help to identify what improvements could be made.
Workers are invited to complete an online survey to share their views in response to some set questions. In doing so you can enter a prize draw to win one of three £100 Love Scotland vouchers.
You will also be asked if you are happy to take part in a follow-up conversation to discuss your views in more detail with Pye Tait Consulting.
It’s really important that all views you are share are honest. There are no right and wrong answers and your responses will be treated securely and used anonymously by Pye Tait Consulting to inform the evaluation report. We will not tell your employer whether or not you have responded, nor what you have said.
You can find a link to the survey of workers below:
Questions cover such topics as:
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Your current awareness of fair work and Fair Work First
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The extent to which you agree or disagree that you currently experience different aspects of fair work
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How – if at all – you believe your experience of fair work has changed over time with your current employer
SURVEY LINKS​
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You can access the evaluation’s online surveys by clicking the following links. Each survey home page provides more information about that survey, including closing times.
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The closing date to submit responses to the survey is 5pm on 23rd January 2026.
Contact us
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If you have any questions about Pye Tait Consulting’s research/activities to inform the evaluation, please contact Adrian Smith, Senior Research Director at Pye Tait Consulting, via a.smith@pyetait.com
If you have any questions about the evaluation in general, please contact Katie Millar at Scottish Government, via fairworkcommissioning@gov.scot
External links
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Further information about fair work and Fair Work First:
Scottish Government – Fair and inclusive workplaces
Fair Work Convention – Putting fair work at the heart of Scotland’s workplaces and economy
Scottish Government – Fair Work First Guidance
Support that may be helpful for workers:
GOV.UK – Workplace bullying and harassment:
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