06/03/2014
Almost 500,000 People Helped Into Jobs Through The Work Programme
Nearly half a million people have been helped into jobs through the Work Programme and new measures will continue to improve the scheme.
New measures to ensure the Work Programme continues to help more long-term unemployed back to work will see a new organisation brought in to run the scheme in one area.
This comes as industry figures published today show that nearly half a million people have been helped into jobs through the Work Programme.
The Work Programme gives tailored support for people at risk of becoming long-term unemployed as part of the government’s economic plan to help people into employment. Performance has dramatically improved since it was introduced in June 2011.
In order to continue this improvement, the bottom quarter of contracts have been told to put forward plans for how they intend to boost their performance. This is so they can deliver a better service for claimants, competing at the level of those contracts doing best at getting the long-term unemployed into work.
In addition, the contract in north east Yorkshire and the Humber, currently run by the Newcastle College Group will be terminated with 12 months' notice. This was the lowest performing contract when assessed against a range of performance measures. Over the next few months we will be conducting a procurement competition to identify a replacement provider.
Employment Minister Esther McVey said: "Work Programme performance has improved dramatically – hundreds of thousands of people have escaped long-term unemployment and been helped into a job as part of the government’s long-term plan to create a stronger, more secure economy. Now we want to take this to the next level by driving up performance even more.
"The competitive market we have created means that providers need to constantly improve. This means good value for taxpayers and, more importantly, supporting as many people as possible off benefits and into a job so they can turn their lives around and have the security of a regular wage."
(CVS/CD)
New measures to ensure the Work Programme continues to help more long-term unemployed back to work will see a new organisation brought in to run the scheme in one area.
This comes as industry figures published today show that nearly half a million people have been helped into jobs through the Work Programme.
The Work Programme gives tailored support for people at risk of becoming long-term unemployed as part of the government’s economic plan to help people into employment. Performance has dramatically improved since it was introduced in June 2011.
In order to continue this improvement, the bottom quarter of contracts have been told to put forward plans for how they intend to boost their performance. This is so they can deliver a better service for claimants, competing at the level of those contracts doing best at getting the long-term unemployed into work.
In addition, the contract in north east Yorkshire and the Humber, currently run by the Newcastle College Group will be terminated with 12 months' notice. This was the lowest performing contract when assessed against a range of performance measures. Over the next few months we will be conducting a procurement competition to identify a replacement provider.
Employment Minister Esther McVey said: "Work Programme performance has improved dramatically – hundreds of thousands of people have escaped long-term unemployment and been helped into a job as part of the government’s long-term plan to create a stronger, more secure economy. Now we want to take this to the next level by driving up performance even more.
"The competitive market we have created means that providers need to constantly improve. This means good value for taxpayers and, more importantly, supporting as many people as possible off benefits and into a job so they can turn their lives around and have the security of a regular wage."
(CVS/CD)
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Almost 200,000 More People Now In Work
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Almost 200,000 More People Now In Work
The latest employment figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that the number of people in work rose by 193,000 to 30.15 million in the three months to December. The number of people unemployed fell to 2.34 million, a drop of 125,000, for the same period. The unemployment rate now stands at 7.2% with the employment rate at 72.
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Retired People 'Should Work For Pension'
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Retired People 'Should Work For Pension'
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:After a dry start this morning rain will spread from the northwest across all parts. This afternoon will be dull with some patchy rain and drizzle. Becoming much milder through the afternoon. Maximum temperature 11 °C.Tonight:A cloudy evening and night with a little light rain or drizzle, perhaps some clear periods developing along the east coast. A very mild night everywhere. Minimum temperature 10 °C.