Ministers are encouraging UK businesses to work with Jobcentres
to fill the thousands of jobs currently vacant as the UK goes for
growth, the Work and Pensions Secretary set out today (30 January).
It comes as the Work & Pensions Secretary visits B&M - a
retailer that has had huge success using the Jobcentre network.
As a fast growing UK retailer, B&M has filled almost 3,000
vacancies through the jobcentre network, with over 85% of new
recruits coming directly through the DWP – benefiting jobseekers
and the businesses' growth.
The DWP has hit the ground running to reset engagement with
employers through new teams to support employers, with dedicated
account managers and a focus on growing the number of Jobcentre
training programmes tailored to employer's needs.
As B&M has opened new stores across the country, it has
teamed up with the local DWP team to run information sessions –
offering interested candidates a guaranteed interview.
Over 73,000 jobs have been added to the labour market since the
start of this Parliament according to the ONS, with new
announcements in the Chancellor's speech yesterday expected to
add thousands more roles to the UK jobs market – including over
100,000 jobs in the local area around Heathrow.
However, new figures show only 1 in 6 employers surveyed reported
using the JobCentre Plus network to hire for their business –
highlighting the need for genuine reform.
That's why as part of the Get Britain Working plan, the
government will reform jobcentres by bringing it together with
the National Careers Service to ensure people have better access
to training and address local skills gaps and help train the
workforce businesses need.
The reforms to get Britain working and modernise the employment
support offer are just one part of the Government's Plan for
Change, which will lay strong foundations to kickstart economic
growth and break down barriers to opportunity across the country.
Work and Pensions Secretary said:
“To get Britain growing again, we need to get Britain working
again.
“As the HR department for the Government's growth mission, our
job is to work with businesses to meet their recruitment needs.
“To help employers grow, hire new staff, and boost opportunity in
every corner of the country, we are determined to change our
approach”
“As part of reforming Jobcentres we will overhaul our service to
better meet employer's needs – turning the DWP into a genuine
public employment service. So businesses can fill jobs and people
can build a better life for themselves and their families.”
A B&M spokesperson said:
“There is a wealth of talent and experience in Jobcentres across
the UK. We encourage other businesses to get in touch with their
local Jobcentre and discover the talent that's available in their
community.”
The new dedicated team set up to support businesses of all sizes
across the country with their recruitment needs has already added
37 new employers to the department's roster in recent weeks, with
notable names including Home Bargains, KFC and Swissport.
In a letter to CEOs from 10 of the UK's top businesses, DWP
ministers said that at a time when recruitment can be a major
cost, the DWP “provides a service to help businesses grow and
support people into work”.
To help other businesses replicate B&M's success, the
department is transforming its service for employers by:
- Hosting summits with employers and stakeholder
representatives across sectors crucial to growth – including
construction, social care and clean energy in the next three
months.
- Boosting the number of training programmes in these sectors
on offer at Jobcentres to upskill jobseekers and provide
employers with the work ready staff they need.
- Serving employers through a dedicated team with highly
experienced experts to provide recruitment support, including
designing tailored campaigns to tackle large numbers of
vacancies.
- Providing an account manager for employers to get more
information about how the JCP can help them and provide
recruitment support – following feedback from businesses that
they wanted an establish a single contact.
- Commissioning Sir Charlie Mayfield to lead an independent
review into the role of employers in reducing health-related
inactivity and promoting healthy and inclusive workplaces – which
is already underway.
