Local MP welcomes progress on Plan for Jobs, to help businesses bring staff back from furlough, create new jobs, and invest in skills to help people get on in their careers.
Government’s Plan for Jobs is an ambitious programme of job creation and support to help people of all ages, including people with health conditions and disabilities, move into work or gain the skills that will open up job opportunities.
Kickstart, the flagship of Plan for Jobs, is a £2bn scheme providing the first step for the future of many young people affected by the pandemic. In addition to Kickstart other schemes such as JETS, SWAPs, JFS and Restart are designed to help people of all ages gain the right skills and experience to help them get back into work.
“In Basingstoke during the Pandemic, for the first time in a decade, we have seen a significant increase in the number of people who have lost their jobs. Some have been able to move straight back into employment in the sectors which are growing in the lockdown, others haven’t had that opportunity yet. As infection rates reduce, businesses will be able to reopen and put in place their plans for recover. The Job Centre in Basingstoke is already supporting people into training that is appropriate. This range of Government employment programmes are an important way to get people back into work as soon as possible.”
Whether you are a business owner, self-employed or a job seeker, there is guidance and support available to you. Answer a few questions to get personalised advice on what support you can access at https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/plan-for-jobs
Kickstart – off to a flying start and moving up a gear
Kickstart, the flagship of Plan for Jobs, is a £2bn scheme providing the first step for the future of many young people affected by the pandemic. Targeted at 16-24 year olds on Universal Credit at risk of long-term unemployment, Kickstart is more than just a job, with participants receiving wider support to improve their longer-term employability. From February 3rd it is even simpler for employers to offer Kickstart jobs, through direct applications for any number of new, additional roles as well as the gateway route.
Since the launch of the scheme in September, 125,000 Kickstart jobs have been approved, through both direct applications from employers and over 700 gateways. This provides a good pipeline of opportunities for young people and puts Government well on the way to offering 250,000 Kickstart roles.
JETS – Blasts Off in Scotland
This week, JETS – Job Entry Targeted Support Scheme – will give people the skills and confidence they need to fuel their job search and take up new opportunities to get back into work, lifted off in Scotland, backed by a £21.7 million investment.
SWAPs – Smashing Through Our 40,000 Target Early, Supporting Thousands More
SWAPs – Sector-Based Work Academy Programmes - is supporting people in England and Scotland to upskill, retrain and pivot towards surging sectors, including construction, infrastructure and social care in line with local labour markets and employer demand. SWAPs delivers mutual benefits for employees and employers, allowing jobseekers to quickly find a route into a new sector and offering a guaranteed interview for a real job at the end of a placement.
JFS – Digital Support Service Now Live
Job Finding Support offer is helping people who have been unemployed for 13 weeks or less and need only light-touch support to increase their chances of finding employment. The national digital service for across Great Britain started this month. Claimants received a minimum of four hours flexible, tailored, one-to-one job finding support including mock interviews, sector-specific job advice and help to identify transferable skills.
Restart – Intensive Support for Long Term Unemployed to Start this Summer
The new £2.9bn Restart Scheme will help over a million jobseekers who have been out of work for over 12 months. The scheme will offer specialist help to find vacancies in the local area and training if needed, providing best chance at finding work. Restart will get underway in England and Wales from this summer.
