More than 800 jobseekers per day have been referred to the
government’s new £238 million JETS – Job Entry Targeted Support –
programme since it launched at the start of October 2020.
In its first fifty days, Work Coaches across the country have
acted quickly to deliver the additional support, signposting tens
of thousands of Universal Credit and New Style Job Seeker’s
Allowance (JSA) claimants to the programme - providing job
hunters with the boost they need to return to employment.
Targeting those made jobless by coronavirus, the support has
already had early successes in finding participants roles.
Jobseekers have received specialist advice on how they can move
into growing sectors where jobs are available, as well as CV and
interview guidance.
The tailored programme also sees those out of work for three
months or longer agree an action plan with their Work Coach,
receive peer support and be signposted to opportunities helping
them build vital skills.
Minister for Employment said:
Many people are sadly facing unemployment due to the pandemic,
for the first time in years, and will need help to build their
confidence, get back on their feet and apply for new roles –
JETS gives people the tools and support they need to succeed.
During such a challenging time, our new employment support is
already helping thousands of jobseekers to get back into work
and I’ve met with JETS providers to see first-hand the vital
help this programme has already given people across Britain.
Our Plan for Jobs is supporting people of all ages – we’re
doubling the number of Work Coaches across our Jobcentres,
creating thousands of opportunities for young people through
our Kickstart Scheme and our SWAP scheme is helping people
retrain in new industries.
JETS has taken off across the nation and is already benefitting
jobseekers, including Kyran, 31, who was referred to the scheme
in early November 2020.
Kyran felt the full impact of the coronavirus and, in the seven
months to November, was homeless and living in a hostel. However,
after finding accommodation and being referred to the JETS
programme, he secured a job that suited his needs to care for his
daughter.
Kyran said:
You could say I haven’t made some of the best choices in life
and I didn’t want help because I thought I could do everything
myself. I acted too proud at times. But I needed help and had
to swallow that pride after being in a hostel for nearly 7
months, never knowing what would be next.
I was approached to join the JETS programme and from the moment
contact was made they have helped me get on my feet. They made
me feel welcome with friendly polite phone calls, not just
wanting to get me into work but also wanting to know I was
okay. It took a matter of days before work was already looking
likely and I managed to secure a job where I would still be
able to look after my daughter.
I would recommend them and, to anyone ever in my position,
their number would be the first I give.
The £238 million programme is part of the government’s Plan for
Jobs, and follows the launch of the £2billion Kickstart scheme
which will create thousands of new high quality jobs for young
people, and Restart, aimed at helping those unemployed for over a
year.
- Work and Health Programme (WHP) Job Entry: Targeted Support
(JETS) provides employment support to Universal Credit (UC), All
Work related Requirements (AWRR) and New Style Jobseeker’s
Allowance (JSA) claimants who have been unemployed for at least
13 weeks and will launch in Scotland early next year.
- This data is derived from unpublished management information
which is collected for internal departmental use only and has not
been quality assured to Official Statistics publication
standards.
