The Wise Group
The Wise Group is a Scottish social enterprise, founded 1983, delivering Relational Mentoring–led employability, justice, energy-advice and digital-skills services to people experiencing poverty across Scotland and Northern England, funded via government contracts and grants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1983
- HeadquartersPaisley, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Wise Group does
The Wise Group is a Scottish social enterprise founded in 1983, headquartered in Paisley/Glasgow, that designs and delivers public-sector-commissioned services aimed at lifting people out of poverty. Its core operating methodology is "Relational Mentoring," in which approximately 50% of mentors are recruited on the basis of lived experience of the issues faced by beneficiaries; reported outcomes include 83% of participants reporting improved situations and a 9.7% reoffending rate in the New Routes justice programme versus a 35% national average.
Service lines span employability (Fair Start Scotland, JETS, Wise Steps), community justice (New Routes for young males aged 16–24), energy advice (Home Energy Scotland, HEAT, with 53,000 households supported and £1.4M in energy savings generated), digital and vocational skills (Connect Platform, Digital Skills Service with CGI UK, CSCS card training), and counselling (Re-Connect). The group operates across Scotland and Northern England, including Tyne and Wear through the North of Tyne Combined Authority partnership.
The business model is that of a non-profit social enterprise: services are delivered free to end-beneficiaries and funded primarily through multi-year government contracts (Scottish Government, DWP), charitable grants (National Lottery Community Fund, European Social Fund), and corporate partnerships (St Giles Trust, E.ON Next, SGN, CGI UK). Reported scale indicators include more than 1 million data points captured annually across 15 service domains, and stated annual social value in excess of £50M from the St Giles partnership alone. The organisation's 40-year operating history and multi-programme commissioned status create a stable but funder-concentrated revenue base.
The Wise Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Wise Group
- Legal name
- The Wise Group
- Website
- https://thewisegroup.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1983
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Wise Group is a Scottish social enterprise, founded 1983, delivering Relational Mentoring–led employability, justice, energy-advice and digital-skills services to people experiencing poverty across Scotland and Northern England, funded via government contracts and grants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Wise Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Social Enterprise Services (Poverty Alleviation & Employability)
- NAICS
- Individual and Family Services (6241), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB), Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK), Financial Assistance & Benefits Navigation Services (BPAGAEAK)
Keywords
Where The Wise Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Paisley
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
The Wise Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Government Contracts: The Wise Group receives funding through government contracts including Fair Start Scotland (Scottish Government employability service) and justice mentoring programmes commissioned by public sector bodies.
- Government Grants: Funding from Scottish Government Tackling Child Poverty Fund (£2.2 million), National Lottery Community Fund for Wise Steps programme, and other public grants for specific initiatives.
- Partnership Funding: Collaborative funding arrangements with corporate partners (e.g., E.ON Next for energy projects) and energy distribution networks (e.g., SGN) to deliver targeted support programmes.
- Social Enterprise Reinvestment: As a social enterprise, profits are reinvested into the organisation's mission of transforming lives and lifting people out of poverty rather than distributed to shareholders.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Free services to individuals - government funded |
| Subscription | Annual | ITA Funding for CSCS Training |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels7 records
The Wise Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Wise Group delivers free, government- and grant-funded social services through a Relational Mentoring model. Its core offerings span employment support (Fair Start Scotland, Wise Steps, JETS), community justice mentoring (New Routes, Wise Choices, SHINE), energy advice (Home Energy Scotland, HEAT), skills and training (CSCS), and in-house counselling (Re-Connect). Services target unemployed individuals, justice-involved people, fuel-poor households, and vulnerable families across Scotland and North East England.
Product overview
The Wise Group is a social enterprise offering a portfolio of services unified by its Relational Mentoring approach. The core offering spans three strategic business units: employment services and skills (Fair Start Scotland, Wise Steps, JETS, Skills and Training); energy advice and advocacy (Home Energy Scotland, HEAT); and community justice (New Routes, Wise Choices, Shine Women's Mentoring, Connect Platform, Re-Connect). The company also offers a Digital Skills Service in partnership with CGI UK. These services are delivered through one-to-one mentoring relationships focused on holistic, whole-person support across multiple life domains.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Relational Mentoring: A compassionate, relationship-based approach to supporting individuals facing multiple challenges including employment, fuel poverty, health, and justice system involvement.
- HEAT (Home Energy Advice Team)
- Home Energy Scotland
- New Routes
- Wise Choices
- SHINE Women's Mentoring Service
- Fair Start Scotland
- Wise Steps
- JETS (Job Entry: Targeted Support)
- Re-Connect
- Connect
Products and services
- Relational Mentoring The Wise Group's core service methodology providing one-to-one mentoring across multiple areas including employment, mental health, housing, financial security and family stability, based on long-term compassionate relationships rather than transactional interventions.
- Fair Start Scotland Scottish Government's flagship employment support service providing dedicated work coaches, CV support, interview preparation, training access and employer engagement to help people in Scotland find work. Wise Group delivers across Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire, Inverclyde, East Dunbartonshire and West Dunbartonshire.
Quantifiable outcome
- 9.7% reoffending rate (vs 35% national average for young males) for New Routes participants who completed the programme
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use The Wise Group
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
The Wise Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
The Wise Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core, primary and minor.
- St GilesflagshipDeepened national partnership combining over 100 years of collective experience in justice, rehabilitation, and whole-person support. Provides integrated rehabilitation pathway from custody to community with whole-family support and evidence-led practice. Generates over £50m annual social value.
- CGI UKcoreDigital Skills Service partnership empowering individuals with technology skills and confidence. Addresses digital exclusion as a fundamental barrier to opportunity, equality, and dignity.
- E.ON NextcoreStrategic collaboration on pioneering home battery technology project with Glasgow City Council. E.ON Next provides smart home battery installations while The Wise Group delivers Relational Mentoring support to families facing fuel poverty. Up to 100 households to benefit initially with ambition to scale city-wide.
- Glasgow City CouncilcorePartnership with E.ON Next and The Wise Group to deliver home battery pilot targeting families at risk of fuel poverty and child poverty. Council provides data-led targeting and leadership within public service integration framework.
- SGN (Scotland Gas Networks)corePartnership to provide targeted energy support to vulnerable communities in Falkirk. Addresses energy affordability, efficiency, and safety for households in areas with nearly a third in fuel poverty and 16% in deprived areas.
- Purpose CoalitioncoreJoint Commission on Breaking Down Barriers to Employment Opportunity co-chaired by Rt Hon Justine Greening and CEO Sean Duffy. Aims to drive long-term change for vulnerable groups through evidence-based policy discussions in areas of employment, skills, offender rehabilitation, mental health, and fuel poverty.
- E.ONcoreCollaboration with E.ON and Glasgow City Council on smart home battery installation pilot combining battery technology with Relational Mentoring to help families store electricity during off-peak hours and reduce energy bills.
- EnableprimaryPartner in Fair Start Scotland delivery alongside The Lennox Partnership, providing employment support services in Scottish local authority areas.
- The Lennox PartnershipprimaryPartner in Fair Start Scotland delivery alongside Enable, providing employment support services in Scottish local authority areas.
- Energy Saving TrustcoreHome Energy Scotland is funded by Scottish Government and managed by Energy Saving Trust. The Wise Group operates the Strathclyde and Central advice centre.
- Ten North EastprimaryLocal delivery partner for Wise Steps programme in Tyne and Wear, providing work coaches and community-based support.
- Women's Health in Tyneside (WHiST)primaryLocal delivery partner for Wise Steps programme providing support for women facing barriers to employment.
- SacroprimaryLead partner in Public Sector Partnership (PSP) for New Routes justice mentoring service. The Wise Group delivers male mentoring aged 16-24 as part of this partnership.
- Glasgow TogethercoreCommunity Interest Company supporting people with offending backgrounds to gain skills and experience in the workplace through construction project partnerships. Provides employment opportunities for New Routes customers.
- Mario GroupminorFacilities management company providing employment opportunities for JETS programme participants. Employer partner receiving recruitment support from The Wise Group's Employer Engagement Team.
- Change Grow LiveminorDrug and alcohol service in Middlesborough providing referral pathway for justice customers needing addiction support.
- CRG HomecareminorHome care provider offering employment opportunities for Wise Steps programme participants in Tyne and Wear.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The Wise Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Catch22: UK social business delivering employability, justice, and social inclusion services with an integrated, outcomes-focused model similar to The Wise Group's Relational Mentoring approach. Catch22 operates across England and Wales, providing comparable services to vulnerable populations.
- Enable Scotland: Scottish charity supporting people with learning disabilities and their families, also a delivery partner in Fair Start Scotland alongside The Wise Group. Enable Scotland's combination of advocacy, employment, and personal support services mirrors The Wise Group's integrated Relational Mentoring approach.
- Energy Saving Trust: UK organisation managing Home Energy Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government, with The Wise Group operating the Strathclyde and Central advice centre under its umbrella. Energy Saving Trust's fuel poverty and energy efficiency remit directly overlaps with The Wise Group's HEAT and Home Energy Scotland services.
- Sacro: Scottish justice charity and Public Sector Partnership lead for the New Routes mentoring service alongside The Wise Group. Sacro delivers community justice, restorative justice, and offender rehabilitation services across Scotland, directly comparable to The Wise Group's community justice portfolio.
- St Giles Trust: UK charity helping people facing severe disadvantage including prison leavers, delivering mentoring and rehabilitation services. St Giles is also The Wise Group's flagship partnership partner (over £50M annual social value), making it both a peer and collaborator with directly overlapping service offerings.
Broad incumbents
- Turning Point: UK social enterprise providing health and social care services including mental health, substance misuse, and learning disability support. Comparable to The Wise Group's Re-Connect counselling service and broader holistic support model, with substantially larger UK-wide footprint.
- Ingeus: Major UK employment services provider delivering welfare-to-work and skills programmes under government contracts (similar to Fair Start Scotland and JETS). Ingeus operates at significantly larger scale than The Wise Group with comparable target populations and contract-based revenue model.
- Shaw Trust: Large UK charity delivering employment services, skills training, and disability support across the UK. Shaw Trust's employability and welfare-to-work programmes are directly comparable to The Wise Group's Fair Start Scotland, Wise Steps, and JETS offerings, though at greater national scale.
- The Prince's Trust: Large UK youth charity supporting young people into education, training, and employment. Comparable to The Wise Group's youth-focused services (New Routes for males 16-24, Wise Steps), with a broader national brand and significantly larger fundraising base.
Emerging players
- Money Advice Trust: UK charity providing debt advice and financial inclusion services. Comparable to The Wise Group's financial security domain within Relational Mentoring (benefits navigation, debt resolution), though with narrower scope focused specifically on money advice rather than whole-person support.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Wise Group social profiles
Digital presenceThe Wise Group compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
The Wise Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Wise Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
The Wise Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Wise Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Wise Group
What does The Wise Group do?
The Wise Group delivers free, government- and grant-funded social services through a Relational Mentoring model. Its core offerings span employment support (Fair Start Scotland, Wise Steps, JETS), community justice mentoring (New Routes, Wise Choices, SHINE), energy advice (Home Energy Scotland, HEAT), skills and training (CSCS), and in-house counselling (Re-Connect). Services target unemployed individuals, justice-involved people, fuel-poor households, and vulnerable families across Scotland and North East England.
Is The Wise Group a public or private company?
The Wise Group is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Wise Group founded?
The Wise Group was founded in 1983. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Wise Group based?
The Wise Group is headquartered in Paisley, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does The Wise Group make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Government Contracts are the primary driver. The others are government Grants, partnership Funding and social Enterprise Reinvestment.
Who are The Wise Group's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Catch22, Enable Scotland, Energy Saving Trust, Sacro and St Giles Trust. Broad incumbents are Turning Point, Ingeus, Shaw Trust and The Prince's Trust. Money Advice Trust is listed as an emerging player.
Does The Wise Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Wise Group.
What industry is The Wise Group in?
The Wise Group's product category is Social Enterprise Services (Poverty Alleviation & Employability). Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGALAM, Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech), with a secondary code of BPAGAEAB, Housing Assistance & Homeless Services. Its NAICS code is 6241 and its SIC code is 8300.