Contracting for the flexible New Deal
The New Deals have been the most successful innovation in the history of the UK labour market. During the last 10 years, the New Deals have helped more than 1.8 million people into work. Over the last decade, the labour market has changed beyond recognition: the New Deals are now 10 years old and so they too must evolve to ensure we are ready for the challenges of the next decade.
On 2 January 2008, the Government announced exciting new plans for transforming Britain’s labour market and this includes the introduction of a more flexible New Deal. Details can be found on the link below:
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/welfarereform/docs/PMNewDeal2-01-08.pdf.
This is a fundamental part of the Government’s wider welfare reform and will underpin the principles of working towards eradicating child poverty by 2020. The flexible New Deal will replace the current New Deal 18 – 24 and 25+ and Employment Zones programmes. It will provide an inspiring opportunity for Prime Contractor organisations from the private, public and third sectors to work together in partnership to deliver this new programme across all Jobcentre Plus districts from Autumn 2009.
The five core principles of the flexible New Deal
- A stronger framework of rights and responsibilities to move benefit customers from being passive recipients to active jobseekers.
- A personalised and responsive approach to individual customer needs which will provide tailored employment and skills support to meet the needs of both customers and local employers.
- A partnership approach with public, private and third sector organisations working together to maximise innovation, leading to more and better outcomes.
- Devolving and empowering communities for future sustainable employment which will be at the heart of neighbourhood renewal.
- Not just jobs, but jobs that pay and offer opportunities for progression, with an emphasis on sustaining and progressing in work to ensure all customers who need help to develop their skills have access to the relevant pre-employment and in-work training.
Next Steps
Over the next few weeks we will be finalising the contracting arrangements to procure the flexible New Deal contracts. We will provide opportunities for you to attend events to ensure that organisations interested in becoming prime contractors and also those who wish to be involved as subcontractors are fully informed about the processes and timescales relating to the provision. Further details of the procurement will be advertised on this page, Supplying DWP, Notice to Providers and in other appropriate media. In the meantime if you require further information please email sheffieldmayfieldcourt.flexiblenewdeal@dwp.gsi.gov.uk