Skills 'Antidote To Unemployment Trap'

John Hayes, Minister for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning (BIS), and Chris Grayling, Minister for Employment (DWP), have demonstrated their joint commitment to a new approach, providing the training needed to help unemployed people into work.

BIS and DWP are working closely together to introduce reforms that will free Jobcentre Plus and training providers from unnecessary bureaucracy and centralisation so they can better respond to the needs of their local communities.

This is a fundamental part of the Government's commitment to support economic growth by supporting employers with the skills they need, and helping people to reduce their reliance on benefits.

John Hayes said: "With the right training and support we believe the unemployed can get the skills they need to get jobs and employers will benefit too.

"Reforming the way the skills and employment and benefit systems interact at a local level is critical to our success. My department is working together with DWP, the JCP and employers to make this happen."

Chris Grayling said: "We are determined to make sure people receive the opportunities, support, training and encouragement to get back into employment and we will be working with employers, training providers, local authorities and the third sector to achieve this.

"Our Work Programme will offer tailored support to the long-term unemployed from this summer delivered by private and voluntary sector providers and more personalised support will be available through Jobcentre Plus."

Mr Hayes and Mr Grayling are visiting Brighton, where they will meet staff from Brighton Jobcentre Plus and City College Brighton and Hove to understand their success to date and how this is working on the ground.

They will hold a roundtable discussion with local representatives from employers, the Probation Service, learning providers, Next Step careers advice, Local Enterprise Partnership, Jobcentre Plus and the Local Authority to discuss best practice in getting the unemployed and offenders back into work.

Skills Funding Agency Chief Executive Geoff Russell said: "Unemployed people deserve our very best collaborative efforts to drive up aspiration and opportunity. In today’s highly competitive economy skills are the passport to ensuring that people find and - most importantly - keep a job."

(BMcN)