17 February 2009 – Over 100,000 People Get Back To Work Through Local Employment Partnerships
Over 100,000 people have been helped back into work through the Government’s pioneering Local Employment Partnerships (LEPs), Minister for Employment Tony McNulty will announce today.
The LEP initiative, launched in March 2007, has now seen many thousands of employers working in partnership with Government to help people who are often overlooked in the jobs market. Over 100,000 people have now been helped back into work – a milestone reached more than two months ahead of schedule.
LEPs involve 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. Each LEP agreement is tailored to the individual needs of the employer.
Tony McNulty Minister for Employment said:
“Local Employment Partnerships’ continue to be a success. Despite the economic downturn and ahead of schedule, over 100,000 people have been helped back into work since the scheme’s creation in March 2007. And we're aiming to help 200,000 more jobless people back into work through LEPs in 2009/10.
“We must build on this success; we are doing everything we can to ensure that more people can benefit from Local Employment Partnership’s so that they can get back into employment.”
The announcement today follows on from the first meeting of the National Employment Partnership (NEP), chaired by the Prime Minister and James Purnell Secretary of State for Work and Pensions last week, which brought together key public and private sector employers to discuss how they could fill more jobs through the scheme.
Notes to Editors
- Local Employment Partnerships (LEPs) are based on a ‘deal’ with employers:
- The Government, through Jobcentre Plus, takes steps to understand employers’ requirements and gets disadvantaged people ready for work;
- Employers with vacancies give people a fair shot at the job – through a range of measures which might include offering work trials or guaranteed interviews, work placements, mentoring etc.
- Building on the success of existing LEPs the Government announced that it will commit to helping 200,000 more people back into employment over the next 12 months. From April 2009 LEPs will be open to newly unemployed as well as long term jobseekers.
Jobcentre Plus, part of the Department for Work and Pensions, brings together employment and benefit services for people of working age and is a key element in the Government's objectives to help people based on ‘Work for those who can, support for those who cannot’. It provides a professional and modern service to meet the diverse needs of employers and those seeking work.
For further information on the services that Jobcentre Plus provides employers and people of working age visit www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk.
Media enquiries:
Press office: 0203 267 5144
Out of hours: 07659 108 883
Textphone: 0203 267 5145
Website: www.dwp.gov.uk
