JET AHEAD
HUNDREDS of thousands of jobseekers could benefit from a new employment programme launching today.
The scheme, which is called JETS (Job Entry Targeted Support), – is backed by a £238 million investment from the government.
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It is already up and running in several counties as of this morning, with more areas following later this month. It will be available in Scotland from early next year.
The JETS scheme is designed to support those people who have been left jobless due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
It specifically targets Universal Credit (UC), All Work related Requirements (AWRR) and New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) claimants who have been unemployed for at least 13 weeks.
Through JETS, the Department for Work and Pensions will give scheme-members access to tailored, flexible support to help them quickly get back into employment.
The new programme will also see a number of providers offer a range of help, including specialist advice on how people can move into growing sectors, as well as CV and interview coaching.
It will give job hunters a return-to-work action plan, which will be agreed with their personal work coach, and complemented by peer support and opportunities to build their skills.
Where is JETS coming next?
THE JETS scheme has already launched in several locations across England, with more regions making it available in the coming months. Here's the full schedule:
Live from today
- Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and Rutland
- Staffordshire and Derbyshire
- Durham and Tees Valley
- North East Yorkshire and the Humber
- Northumberland, Tyne and Wear
- South Yorkshire
- West Yorkshire
- Cheshire
- Cumbria and Lancashire
- Merseyside
- Avon, Somerset and Gloucestershire
- Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
- Devon and Cornwall
- Dorset, Wiltshire, Hampshire and IOW
- Surrey & Sussex
- North and Mid Wales
- South East Wales
- South West Wales
- South London
- West London
Live from October 19
- Birmingham and Solihull
- Black Country
- Leicestershire and Northamptonshire
- Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and Rutland
- Mercia
- Staffordshire and Derbyshire
- Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire
- Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
- East Anglia
- Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire
- Essex
- Kent
- Surrey & Sussex
- East London
- North London
- South London
- West London
- North London
- West London
- Greater Manchester
Live from October 26
- East London
- North London
- South London
Last month's figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that 695,000 Brits have lost their job since March with unemployment at 4.1%.
The new multi-million-pound programme is part of the government’s "Plan for Jobs", and follows the launch of the £2billion Kickstart scheme which promised to create thousands of new high quality jobs for young people.
To deliver the plan, the DWP is recruiting an additional 13,500 work coaches, doubling the total number to 27,000 this financial year.
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Therese Coffey said: “This scheme will help those left out of work as a result of Covid-19, and is one strand of our wider Plan for Jobs.”
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak added: “I’ve always been clear that we can’t save every job.
“I’ve spoken about the damaging effects of being out of work, but through JETS we will provide fresh opportunities to those that have sadly lost their jobs, to ensure that nobody is left without hope.”
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