Almost 100,000 workplace training places have been delivered in
the past year for jobseekers, smashing the Government's 80,000
annual target, new data has revealed.
Part of the Government's plan to help people back to work and
grow the economy, Sector-based Work Academy Programmes
(SWAPs)
help benefit claimants move off welfare and into work by
providing tailored training and work experience before a
guaranteed job interview. Businesses who are actively hiring help
craft these six-weeks on-the-job programmes, so that participants
gain the right experience and skills for their roles.
The latest figures
published this week show that in the last year 98,710
places were delivered - the highest annual figure yet. It brings
the total number of SWAP starts to
283,930 – in sectors ranging from coding to hospitality,
construction, health and social care.
It comes in the week that the Government's NICs cuts worth
£900 to the average worker hits pay packets as part of the plan
to cut taxes, grow the economy and build a brighter future for
hard-working families.
Backed by industry giants such as UKHospitality, the British
Chamber of Commerce and Business in the Community, alongside
household brands like Amazon, JD Sports and Lidl, jobseekers
leave SWAPs work-ready as
they apply for live job roles.
The milestone follows the Government's bold new vision for
welfare, with the Prime Minister outlining reforms to tackle
inactivity as we give more Brits the skills and support to get
back into work as we bring down migration levels.
Secretary of State for Work & Pensions, MP said:
Our Jobcentres are a proven route to changing lives through work
and the learning and upskilling opportunities they provide are
second to none.
As part of our plan to build our new welfare settlement for
Britain and grow the economy, this major milestone helps people
get on with the skills they need to secure a great job, a higher
wage, and a brighter future for their family.
After the Prime Minister announced the accelerated rollout of
Universal Credit last week, together with increases to the
Administrative Earnings Threshold (AET), even more
claimants will benefit from the dedicated employment support
offered through our Jobcentres.
This includes all the programmes under the Department for Work
and Pensions' (DWP) £2.5bn Back to
Work Plan, which is set to help over a million people, including
those with long-term health conditions to break down barriers to
work.
Keith, 47, from St Austell was looking to change careers after he
finished a previous role.
Keith said:
I was very interested in getting into Mental Health Care, but I
had no qualifications or experience in the area. My Work Coach
Tom was really supportive and told me how I could get experience
in the sector through a SWAP with the
NHS.
The SWAP opened my
eyes to the type of roles available within the NHS and gave me
the confidence I needed to kickstart my new career. I'm now
working as a Developmental Mental Health Assistant and cannot
believe I've reached my dream of working in Mental Health so
quickly with the help of SWAPs.
Whether it's someone's first job or a career change, jobseekers
of any age and experience can access invaluable work experience
through SWAPs for a
role actively being recruited for.
Andrew Bush, CPO of Greene King, said:
We were really pleased to be part of the sector-based work
academy in partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions
and other hospitality employers.
Through collaboration, we were able to create a programme that
gave candidates a greater insight into our exciting industry,
providing opportunities for many to achieve a fulfilling career
in hospitality.
The Government is taking the long-term decisions to ensure the
resilience of the UK's labour market, building a strong economy
where hard work is rewarded and where everyone has a brighter
future.
Alexandra Hall-Chen, Principal Advisor for Employment and Skills
with the Institute of Directors said:
At a time when many businesses are struggling to recruit the
skills they need, SWAPs provide
a valuable means by which employers can tap into a wider pool of
candidates.
By providing jobseekers with support and training targeted at key
sectors, SWAPs are a
key tool in tackling both skills shortages and barriers to
employment.
Further Information
-
See the full breakdown
of statistics for Sector-based Work Academies here:
-
This includes:
- 98,710 in the latest financial year
- 283,930 SWAP starts in
total
- 108,090 for 20 - 29 year olds
-
40,670 for over 50's
-
SWAPs provide
jobseekers with 6 weeks pre-employment training, vocational
training run by a local college or training provider, work
experience with an employer and a job interview with an
employer in the sector at the end of the programme.
-
SWAPs are
available for jobseekers claiming Universal Credit, Jobseeker's
Allowance (JSA) or
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) in England and
Scotland.
- Jobseekers or benefit claimants should contact their local
Jobcentre Plus for more information about
local SWAP opportunities
available to them.
- Jobseekers looking for a job can use the Find a Job website on
gov.uk.
