Work Programme

Work Programme

The Work Programme is the single programme for people in receipt of benefits and comes into effect once Jobseekers Allowance has been claimed for a defined amount of time, relating to specific  circumstances. The Work Programme replaces other programmes such as Flexible New Deal, Community Taskforce and so on.

The contracts are larger and span regional areas with large international companies holding contracts with the Department for Work and Pensions. In the East Midlands our prime contractors are A4E Ltd.

We have a contact with each of these prime contractors and provide specific support to local unemployed people who are referred to us via Jobcentre Plus.

A4E 

Clients spend 104 weeks with us, working towards suitable and sustainable employment. We have regular meetings with clients to discuss their experiences to date, their barriers to work, and hep them refine their job searching techniques. We provide access to training and specialist support agencies in the city. We arrange work placements, with local organisations from public, private and voluntary and community sectors to enhance clients skills abilities and experience. We promote volunteering as a route back into the workplace and work with the Volunteer Centre at Community Action to access suitable volunteering opportunities.

Once in work, we provide an 8:00 am to 8:00 pm support telephone line and work alongside employers to ensure our clients remain in work.