10 October 2007 – Over 100 employers sign up to landmark employment initiative
Over 100 employers have signed up to the groundbreaking ‘LEP’ initiative to help 250,000 people off benefits and into work, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Peter Hain will announce today.
Mr Hain will say in a speech this afternoon that 118 employers from a range of sectors – such as banking and finance, hospitality, retail and local councils – have now committed to the DWP’s Local Employment Partnership.
The ‘jobs pledge’ will contribute to the long-term goal of achieving full employment and eradicating child poverty.
Mr Hain will say at a London child poverty conference this afternoon:
“The next step is to achieve full employment as the heart of our anti-poverty strategy. Work is the way out of poverty and increasing numbers of vulnerable people, particularly lone parents recognise that and want to work. LEPs will play a key role in achieving this.
“We now have over 100 employer commitments to LEPs across the UK and we are in discussions with other employers who are interested in joining us.
“We will ensure that people who are disadvantaged in the job market get the right type of training to get them to the point of being ‘job ready’ getting that greater integration between skills and employment.
“In exchange for that they will have a guaranteed job interview or placement.
“And employers who sign up for LEPs will provide mentoring schemes to help people make the transition into a working environment.”
The LEP involves major employers in both the public and private sectors giving a commitment to offer guaranteed job interviews for people who have been on benefit and who are ready and prepared to work.
Among the latest employers to sign up to the LEP are Travelodge and vocational learning provider Carter & Carter.
Grant Hearn, Chief Executive of Travelodge, said:
"We create a vacancy for a hotel manager every eight working days due to our major hotel openings programme. In response to such significant growth we have to be innovative in how we recruit and draw on the hidden talent in our local communities.
"Travelodge wants to make hotels available to everyone and that means careers as well as customers. Our partnership with the Government allows us to meet our long term skills needs while supporting their vision of full UK employment."
Helen Richardson, Managing Director of the employability sector of Carter & Carter said:
“We actively employ clients from our employability programmes and have many in sustained jobs – we wouldn’t ask employers to take on our clients if we didn’t do so too. We are delighted to support the DWP and Jobcentre Plus in signing the jobs pledge which we consider to be a key initiative.”
Notes to Editors
- Peter Hain will be speaking at a conference organised by the London Child Poverty Commission. For copies of his speech contact Eltan Halil in the DWP national press office on 0203 267 5123.
DWP National Press Office: 020 3267 5144
Out of hours: 07659 108 883
Website: www.dwp.gov.uk