Recent months have seen a flurry of announcements on some important reforms to employment support. Building on announcements in the Get Britain Working White Paper, we have seen the development of plans to create a national Jobs and Careers Service, the welcome expansion of specialist programmes in Pathways to Work, additional capacity to support disabled people to find work through Jobcentre work coaches, and an increased focus on in-work support for those who need it. Alongside this, the Work and Pensions Committee is currently conducting an inquiry into fundamental reform to Jobcentre Plus (JCP).
The scale of these reforms is significant, and the announcement in the Chancellor’s Spring Statement of an additional £1.9 billion investment in employment support over the next five years is welcome.
Maximising the impact of reforms
As the dust settles, discussions now turn to the practicalities of maximising the impact of the proposed additional budget and reforms, in the most effective and time efficient way.
Everyone working across the employability sector shares the same overall goal with JCP of helping people to enter, remain and progress in work. JCP is a vital service, providing interventions which are appropriate for most jobseekers – especially those who have become recently unemployed and those requiring more mainstream support.
Efforts at reform which clarify JCP’s important role, innovate delivery, and make it a better service for jobseekers, are to be welcomed.
However, JCP does not and cannot operate alone, and this is also an opportune moment for the Government to consider how to take full advantage of the work of the employability sector, which has the ability to reach further than JCP and truly meet local needs.
There is a rich eco-system of this provision in local communities across the country, delivered by specialist charities, public and private sector organisations with the resources, expertise and capacity to especially support those jobseekers with additional needs.
The role of specialist employment advisors
Experienced employment support providers have a proven track record of helping individuals furthest from the labour market progress into sustainable work. For example, services like the Work and Health Programme and the Restart Scheme deliver personalised support on a large scale. Specialised service, like the Home Office’s Refugee Employability Programme, tailor assistance for specific groups while collaborating with local charities nationwide.
This success has been further evidenced in the recently published Work Choice impact evaluation, referenced by the Work and Secretary in the House of Commons last week. Work Choice was a voluntary contracted employment programme for people with disabilities, which ran across Great Britain from 2010-2019.
The impact evaluation highlighted that the programme successfully helped participants enter and stay in employment. The programme was also cost-effective – with each £1 of cost delivering a £1.67 return to the Treasury, and £2.98 to wider society. We have seen similar evaluation findings from programmes such as Fair Start Scotland.
New era of employment support
The Government rightly recognises the value of commissioned employment support, both large scale and highly specialised, national and local. For meaningful, rapid change, the existing infrastructure can quickly reach groups outside the benefit system. Its proven track record demonstrates its ability to support those with long-term unemployment effectively.
The pandemic showed the ability of the sector to adapt to labour market shocks, changing government priorities, and the emergence of new sectors, in ways others might struggle. This included better use of technology, including the focus area of AI, reflecting the changing needs and behaviours of the public, and supporting those with limited accessibility.
Employment support is entering a new era, with local and combined authorities playing a larger role. Specialised provision is expanding, and alignment between employment, skills, and careers is improving. As the system grows more complex, accessible support becomes increasingly essential. Clear referral routes and strong collaboration with expert providers ensure the system plays to its strengths.
