Government announces pilots to help long-term jobseekers into work

The schemes will be developed and delivered by six combined authorities in partnership with the government. They offer specialist tailored support to individuals including older people and the disabled and the Government says they will help over 18,000 people to tackle both long-term barriers to work and in-work progression.

The pilots include:

• a ‘Health and Care Sector Progression Academy’ to train social care workers in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. The £5.2 million pilot aims to create 600 new apprenticeships in the health and care industry
• an ‘early intervention’ scheme in Sheffield to prevent people falling into long-term unemployment
• a new business-led training hub for modern work skills in the Tees Valley

Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Sajid Javid said: “These pilots will trial new approaches to help the most disadvantaged people in our society to get the security of a good job and a regular pay packet, helping to build a country that works for everyone.”

The Government says the new pilots are “part of ground-breaking devolution deals and the government’s plan to hand new funding and powers back to local areas across the country” through working with the new combined authority mayors.