Unemployment can often deliver a blow to confidence, creating growing self-doubt in the face of mounting bills or a stream of automated rejection letters.
When Diane Hall, who is in her 50s and lives in Walsall, in the West Midlands, had her first meeting with her local training provider, Embark Learning, last autumn, her self-esteem had been battered. Business development manager Safwan Hanash remembers: “She was nervous, and wanted to pull the plug, saying: ‘I can’t do it, I can’t do it.’”
Yet, just three months on, Hall has attained her first qualifications since leaving school, has breezed through a job interview, and now works in a care home, helping keep residents safe during Covid-19. It’s a new career path for somebody who had long assumed such avenues were closed to her. As Hanash recalls: “All Diane wanted was to give something back and to just work. The transformation has been phenomenal.”
Hall is one of many people to have secured a job through the UK government’s Sector based Work Academy Programme (SWAP), which has helped more than 40,000 people into work-experience placements. The scheme, part of the £280bn Plan for Jobs package to spur economic recovery from Covid-19, gives jobseekers receiving unemployment benefits a chance to experience work in industries such as care, construction or logistics. Along the way, candidates receive free training, spring-clean their CVs, and learn how to master job interviews.
The scheme that Hall and Hanash were involved in was particularly successful. All those who started training at Embark Learning last October have been give jobs with Fairway Homecare, a care provider across the West Midlands.
“The beauty of the scheme is that candidates don’t need experience,” says Hanash. “If they’d applied for jobs with other care providers, they’d have been asked about their credentials and experience, meaning they’d probably have struggled to get a response, let alone an interview.”
As such, SWAP can benefit those lacking qualifications (such as Hall) or those wishing to pivot to a new career. Embark Learning has been deluged with applications from people made redundant in Covid-hit sectors such as hospitality and retail. But its talent pool also includes former social-care workers returning after raising families and graduates wanting to pursue a career in mental health.
“For many, though, it’s about survival and putting food on the table.” says Hanash. “I know what that feels like: I’ve been poor, struggled financially and applied for opportunities where nobody’s given me the time of day ... But SWAP raises people’s self-esteem and gives them stability. That transformation is what motivates me.”
The programme has resonated with under-25s, the generation whose employment prospects have been hit hardest by the pandemic. “You might assume young people would be fazed by the idea of washing residents. But, once they start the scheme, they rarely drop out,” says Hanash.
Candidates receive training by Embark Learning in partnership with local colleges. It’s at this stage that jobseekers lacking confidence – such as those who believe recruiters will regard them as being over-the-hill – often rediscover long forgotten talents.
“Some candidates are in their early 60s, and tell me they haven’t got experience or they’re too old,” says Hanash. “This couldn’t be further from the truth. If they’ve cared for their children or family, they’ve got valuable experience. When I ask whether they’ve ever changed nappies or administered medicine for a loved one, they start to think: ‘Oh, I have got skills.’”
During pre-employment training – which can be tailored to the needs of the business sector in which the candidate will work – trainees develop the skills they’ll need in the workplace, gain qualifications and learn how to deal with job interviews. There’s also an option of free clothing for those unable to afford suits or other work attire.
The next stage is the work placement, where candidates acquire hands-on experience. According to Hanash, the ritual of turning up to work every day “establishes normality and stability after years of not having a routine”. He believes the scheme is having a positive impact on wellbeing and mental health.
As well as transforming the chances of those seeking work, the scheme benefits employers, too. Aside from providing trained recruits, it improves company culture by boosting staff diversity and social mobility. It is also an effective way to upskill other staff, who can develop leadership skills by mentoring or supervising the new charges. At a time when staff numbers in care homes risk being depleted when workers self-isolate, the extra help from SWAP candidates can be invaluable.
There’s no cost to the business because the UK government funds placements. As for candidates, they continue to receive benefits during a placement and have travel and childcare costs paid.
Of course, not every candidate will secure a full-time job at the end of the four-week scheme. Even so, Hanash points out that their time will not have been wasted. “They’ll have gained knowledge, skills, certificates and an updated CV to make themselves more marketable,” he says. “I’d be more inclined to employ somebody with a recent qualification, rather than somebody who’s done nothing.”
Plan for Jobs
Some of the schemes that are part of the Plan for Jobs portfolio
SECTOR-BASED WORK ACADEMY PROGRAMME (SWAP)
Who it helps
A six-week scheme pairing businesses that want to hire skilled workers with unemployed people looking for jobs.
How it works
Prior to the placement, the candidates receive training delivered by local colleges or training providers. This is paid for by the UK government, and can be tailored to the business or sector where the candidates will undertake their placements.
After completing their training, the candidates will start their SWAP work-experience placements. They will still receive benefits while on the placement, plus travel and childcare costs.
Why do it
SWAP is aimed at people who are receiving unemployment benefits. They may have been out of work for some time or could have recently lost their jobs due to Covid-19. It offers an opportunity to learn new skills and gives them the experience of working in a new industry, without having to spend money on retraining.
For businesses, the scheme could introduce them to people they’d like to employ full-time, or it could help them identify future talent for apprenticeships. The placements can also be a way to upskill existing staff, by providing opportunities for them to mentor and supervise SWAP candidates.
There is no direct cost to the business; all SWAP placements are UK government-funded.
More information
gov.uk/jobhelp
Employer services line: 0800 169 0178
KICKSTART
Who it helps
This programme is for young people (16-24 year olds) claiming universal credit who are at risk of long-term unemployment because of the disruption caused by Covid-19. The £2bn Kickstart Scheme allows them to undertake a six-month job placement to help develop the skills needed to find work, but it could also lead to full-time employment. Businesses such as Domino’s Pizza, Tesco and Network Rail have all signed up.
How it works
During their placements, candidates will spend all their time in the workplace, where they’ll gain work experience and training to boost their chances of being hired afterwards.
All wages are fully funded by the UK government at the national minimum wage for up to 25 hours a week. National insurance and automatic-enrolment pension contributions are also subsidised. Employers can provide wage top-ups if they wish.
Why do it
It’s a long-term investment for businesses: the Kickstart candidate could end up working full-time for a company or take up an apprenticeship with it.
Kickstart could also be used for the personal development of existing staff members, who can upskill by supervising, mentoring or coaching the candidates.
More information
kickstart.campaign.gov.uk
NEW ENTERPRISE ALLOWANCE (NEA)
Who it helps
Unemployed people or those receiving benefits who are thinking of starting their own business. Self-employed people who want to expand their businesses can also use the scheme.
The NEA provides financial assistance to support people’s entrepreneurial ambitions. Since it launched in 2011, it has enabled more than 215,000 jobseekers to become their own bosses.
How it works
The candidates will need to put together a business plan that has to be approved by a Jobcentre Plus work coach.
Successful candidates may receive a weekly allowance of up to £1,274 over 26 weeks; and be assigned a mentor who will give advice for up to 12 months. Candidates can also apply for a loan to help with startup costs.
Why do it
It gives people the chance to move away from benefits and set up their own business. The loans are UK government-backed and there are no fees for applying or for repaying them early.
Candidates can receive free advice from a mentor.
More information
Talk to your Jobcentre Plus work coach, who can check your business idea and eligibility.
This advertiser content was paid for by the UK government. All together (Protecting and creating jobs) is a government-backed initiative tasked with informing the UK about the Covid-19 pandemic. For more information, visit gov.uk/jobhelp
