HELP INTO WORK
U.K, U.S, and rest of the world
Help into work initiatives can be a massive advantage to someone looking to get back into the workplace. Most of these initiatives are run through the government, and you’ll normally only become eligible to participate in one after a certain amount of time being unemployed, or if you meet other types of eligibility criteria, although luckily this isn’t always true 100% of the time. In the UK, it’s always worth checking if this is a resource that is available for you, and you can do this either by visiting the citizens advice bureau, going onto GOV.uk, or by visiting your local job center
UK Only
The best known help into work initiative was the Work Programme. This was run with the aim of providing additional support, training, and job sourcing opportunities to the long term unemployed with the goal of helping them find and stay in full-time employment. However, it stopped taking new participants on 1 April 2017, and was due to close completely by the end of 2019. The good news however is that there are always other help into work and charitable initiatives going on up and down the length of the country to give people that extra help and support they need
There are potentially multitudes of different help into work initiatives available in your area at any given time. Each initiative differs from the next and varies in the type of services and support it provides. Some of the smaller initiative’s aren’t always that well advertised, perhaps due to the fact that there are usually strict eligibility criteria before people can enroll in them. But by making the effort and having the motivation to seek them out, it gives you the best opportunity of finding one you can benefit from. (Again, you can find out what help into work initiatives might be available to you by visiting your local citizens advice bureau, going online to GOV.uk, or by visiting your local job center)
Help into work initiatives are run by a varied range of specialist providers, although many of them offer similar types of support and services. Among the most common things you will find is practical help with interview preparation, advice on interviewing techniques, and reliable tips on how to dress for your interview. They can also provide assistance to help you create quality C.V’s and cover letters, or give you useful assistance for touch-ups with these types of documents, as well as helping you plan out and co-ordinate an effective job search routine
More comprehensive schemes may offer even more extensive levels of support. This can include things like providing workshops that cover a variety of topics in things like I.T and computing, literacy courses, mathematics courses, and other essential skills, customer service classes, job search strategies, effective problem-solving courses, and more. They may also offer one-on-one job search support, and some may even offer post hire support and follow up sessions, as well as specialist assistance for those jobseekers with the relevant experience to help them into supervisory and management positions.
Additionally, these types of comprehensive employment schemes can also provide mental health and wellbeing resources as well. That includes providing assistance with health-related barriers preventing people from going back to work. This is usually wide ranging and comprehensive support that assists not only yourself, but also your prospective employer and in some cases your health insurers as well. It means that for job seekers who find employment through these schemes, it might include things like medical case management, health coaching, guidance and individually tailored return-to-work plans. It might also even include providing advice to your employer regarding any medical limitations or prohibitions you have when you are offered a position. Most important of all though is that these types of schemes can give you access to additional job sources that your fellow jobseekers may not have access to. This is what can give your job search a real boost, and if you have the willpower and determination use them, they can provide you with employment opportunities that you otherwise may not have been able to find on your own
A good help into work scheme will provide you with other resources too – such as providing funding for interview clothing, travel expenses, and in some cases even grants for additional training and further education. The great thing about any help into work scheme for you is that it’s completely free. Below is an overview of some of the more prominent schemes incepted in the UK to date
Jobcentre Plus
Jobcentre Plus is part of the Department for Work and Pensions and is the largest provider of training and job searching support available to unemployed people in the UK. Its main function is to help unemployed people who are eligible to work in the UK get training to enhance their employability as well as to provide job searching assistance and support. Its other main function is to administer benefits for eligible jobseekers as well as those eligible for disability support.
Jobcentre Plus is a government funded agency that provides assistance in the form of benefits, job training, and job searching support to the unemployed people of the UK
New Enterprise Allowance (NEA)
The goal of this scheme is to help people who are looking for work but would like to start their own business and become self-employed. People enrolled in this scheme are eligible to receive payments over 26 weeks to assist them with their living expenses and are also able to apply for a start-up loan. Other benefits associated with this scheme are support and guidance to help develop a business plan, business outline, and mentoring and support in the start-up stages of their business
Work and Health Programme
The work and health programme began in November 2017. The scheme itself differs in several ways from The Work Programme and Work Choice schemes it was designed to replace. Around a quarter of the size of the old Work Programme, it’s smaller and more streamlined to provide a higher degree of specialized support for specific demographics of the populace. One of its primary focuses is to provide specialist support for those with health conditions or disabilities. Another main goal of the scheme is to support people who have been out of work for over 2 years, and participation in the scheme at this stage is mandatory for those in this category. The scheme also allows early access for specific groups who want to volunteer to get into the programme, such as prison leavers and the homeless
Work Trials
This is not a specific scheme per se, but another avenue you can use to try and get into work. Some employers will offer work trials to assess a candidate’s eligibility for a particular role. You can widen your search criteria when looking for jobs by adding positions available via the work trial to your criteria when job searching too. Alternatively, you can simply offer to do a work trial for an employer to increase your chances of landing a job
As a jobseeker, work trials can be useful because they allow you to try out for a position while still receiving your benefits. It can also increase your appeal to an employer if you indicate that you’re willing to participate in a work trial for them. Work trials can last anywhere from a few hours to 30 days, although most work trials involving a permanent job will normally last anywhere from 5 – 10 days
The good thing about work trials is that you should be able to discontinue the trial at any point if you, or the employer, don’t think it’s working out, without affecting your benefits. It also shouldn’t affect your benefits if you’re offered the job at the end of the trial but then subsequently decide it’s not right for you, so you have complete flexibility.
(It’s normally only appropriate to offer to do a work trial for an employer if sending out speculative C.V’s/ Cover letters, or when conducting walk-in job enquiries. **It’s always important you check with your local jobcenter so they can confirm the terms and conditions with you before offering to do a work trial**)
Community jobs Scotland
This scheme is targeted at 16-29yr olds in Scotland who may face barriers getting into the job market due to disabilities or criminal convictions. This is a scheme that helps participants get jobs with Third Sector and voluntary organisations. To be considered for the scheme you’ll need to have been unemployed for at least six months. Schemes like this are effective for certain types of jobseeker because working with their affiliates in the Voluntary and Third Sectors, they can provide them access to additional job sourcing that their fellow jobseekers won’t have access to, giving them a big advantage when looking to secure work
Jobs Growth Wales
This scheme operates in Wales. It targets 16-24yr olds and looks to help them get into the workplace. Again, schemes like this are highly effective for eligible jobseekers because they can get them access to additional job sourcing that other jobseekers won’t have access to. To be eligible for this scheme, you need to live in Wales, be available to enter full-time employment, and not be in any other education, employment or training at the time
Steps 2 Success
This scheme operates in Northern Ireland and has a wide eligibility criteria. It was designed to give support and oversight to job searchers, and help them with practical aspects like C.V’s, cover letters and interview preparation. Until recently, it was open to anyone who was unemployed, over 18, and working less than 16 hours a week – although at the moment it is not taking on any new applicants
ORGANISATIONS INVOLVED IN HELP INTO WORK INITIATIVES – U.K ONLY
If you’re struggling to find help into work schemes in your area, another potential tactic is to contact providers of these schemes (listed below) to see if they can give you help or information regarding any assistance you may be eligible for
A4e
Avanta
CDG
EOS
ESG
G4S
Ingeus
Interserve
Learndirect Ltd
Maximus
NCG
Pertemps
Prospects
Reed
Rehab
Remploy (Wales)
Seetec
Serco
Working Links