Written evidence submitted
by Hampshire County Council
1. EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY
1.1. This evidence is given by Hampshire County
Council on behalf of the New Jobs, New Futures consortium. Furthermore,
some consortium partners will be submitting their own evidence
to the inquiry.
1.2. The purpose of this paper is to provide
supporting evidence to The Youth Unemployment and Future Jobs
Fund Inquiry from the Provider, Employer and Employee perspectives
in the delivery of the Future Jobs Fund in the Hampshire and Isle
of Wight sub-region.
1.3. This paper seeks to demonstrate the significant
benefits experienced from all perspectives with specific reference
to matching new work experience opportunities to young unemployed
people and the sustainability of the future jobs fund.
1.4. The New Jobs, New Futures Consortium has
employed 679 young people. This equates to 90% of the agreed profile
to the end of September 2010. The consortium is on target to deliver
100% of the agreed profile to the end of March 2011.
1.5. Significant findings show that in Hampshire
and the Isle of Wight 47% of those leaving Future Jobs Fund employment
are going into employment. Whilst only 7% of those in Future Jobs
Fund employment leave early.
1.6. The impact of the decision to end the Future
Jobs Fund in March 2011 rather than March 2012 has effectively
reduced the vacancies available to young people by 900 positions.
1.7. The Future Jobs Fund has engendered extremely
successful partnership working and although lessons learnt are
valuable, without the delivery of a joint programmes such as the
Future Jobs Fund, these partnerships will diminish.
2. INTRODUCTION
2.1. Hampshire County Council is the lead accountable
body for the "New Jobs, New Futures" project, a consortium
initiative that covers the Hampshire and Isle of Wight sub-region,
funded by the Future Jobs Fund. The New Jobs, New Future project
is creating 900 real jobs for long-term unemployed 18-24 year
olds and continues to 31 March 2011.
2.2. In June 2009 unemployment figures among
Hampshire's young people had nearly doubled from the previous
12 months. 5.5% per cent of the county's 103,000 18-24 year olds
were out of work. Of these 5,600 unemployed young people, 754
had been Jobcentre Plus customers for over six months. In addition
to this, vacancy numbers were shrinking; in Hampshire, the May
2008 rate stood at 10,234, by May 2009 this had shrunk to 7660.[34]
The neighbouring authorities of Southampton, Portsmouth and the
Isle of Wight were also noticing a considerable increase in youth
unemployment and this prompted a joint consortium approach to
the Future Jobs Fund.
2.3. The New Jobs, New Futures consortium partners
have significant experience in delivering European and Nationally
funded employment and skills initiatives and have joined together
from the public, private and third sector to deliver the New Jobs,
New Futures project. The lead consortium providers are Hampshire
County Council; Portsmouth City Council; Southampton City Council;
Southampton Solent University; Wheatsheath Trust; Groundwork Solent;
The City Growth Business Group; VT Training; and Community Empowerment
Ltd. In addition to these partners, jobs are being delivered across
a range of employers from all sectors. The consortium structure
is shown in Annex I.
2.4. The Future Jobs Fund is specifically intended
to help those individuals that need the most support. In addition
to long term unemployment Future Jobs Fund employees in Hampshire
experience multiple barriers to work with 26% having a disability
or medical issue; 9% having a positive CRB return and 80% having
no formal qualifications beyond secondary education. The New Jobs,
New Futures project provides a wide range of wrap-around support
for individuals including personal development, vocational training,
mentoring, job search and support to progress into permanent employment.
2.5. The New Jobs, New Futures project sees partners
creating job opportunities across a wide geographic area to deliver
a variety of community benefits, fitting broadly into the following
categories: Conservation and countryside; Environmental improvements
and regeneration; Leisure, recreation and tourism; Improved community
facilities and public places; Social enterprise support and development;
and Sector support of hospitality, construction and tourism. The
tangible practical improvements of creating these jobs will include
better access to green space, safer and more welcoming urban centres,
better access to and awareness of healthy lifestyles; improved
leisure and recreational facilities; improved community facilities
and more opportunities for young and older people.
3. MATCHING NEW
WORK EXPERIENCE
OPPORTUNITIES TO
YOUNG UNEMPLOYED
PEOPLE.
3.1. The job opportunities identified in the
New Jobs New Future project were specifically selected to be suitable
for young unemployed people with no or little work experience.
Working closely with their assigned Jobcentre Plus Partnership
Managers the consortium providers have developed opportunities
to meet both the need of the employee and the employer.
3.2. In preparation for the New Jobs, New Futures
project on-flow data was produced to estimate the concentration
of long term youth unemployment by geography over the period of
the project. This data was used to create a monthly profile of
job delivery across partners agreed with the Department for Work
and Pensions
3.3. The New Jobs, New Futures Consortium has
employed 679 young people. This equates to 90% of the agreed profile
to the end of September 2010. The consortium is on target to deliver
100% of the agreed profile to the end of March 2011.
3.4. Those employees leaving employment before
completing the duration of the Future Jobs Fund contract is recorded
at 47. This equates to a overall employee turnover rate of just
7% compared to the average UK rate of 13.5% for employment generally[35].
3.5. The success of matching new work experience
opportunities to young unemployed people is attributed to a number
of factors, these being:
- 3.5.1. Accurate profiling of job delivery
by consortium partners and the Department for Work and Pensions:
The Hampshire and Isle of Wight sub-region has a varied demographic
with concentrations of youth unemployment. To ensure an equitable
spread of opportunities on-flow data has been used to estimate
where and when provision is more likely to be needed.
- 3.5.2. The creation and selection of suitable
employment opportunities for young unemployed people by consortium
partners and Jobcentre Plus Partnership Managers: A significant
focus has been on developing roles that match both the need of
the employer and that of the employee with jobs being specifically
created to overcome some of the barriers faced by unemployed young
people. The range of partners in the consortium has afforded diverse
employment opportunities and experiences. In particular, the varied
services delivered by the public sector has opened a range of
opportunities to young people that would not otherwise be available.
- 3.5.3. The effective selection of candidates
and support given to JSA claimants in taking up Future Jobs Fund
opportunities by Jobcentre Plus: The New Jobs, New futures project
has worked closely with Jobcentre Plus through all stages of recruitment.
The invaluable partnership working between providers and the Jobcentre
Plus Partnership Managers has enabled quick and effective selection
of candidates.
- 3.5.4. The flexibility of the Future Jobs
Fund criteria allowing providers to design project delivery to
specifically support local need: With its rural, urban and coastal
zones the Hampshire and Isle of Wight sub-region affords a diverse
range of industries and as such project delivery requires multiple
support options. The flexibility of the Future Jobs Fund has allowed
bespoke delivery mechanisms to address need in a specific area.
- 3.5.5. The effective partnership working
between the public, private and third sector to provide cross-sectoral
support across the consortium area: The consortium has drawn on
expertise from the public, private and third sector; sharing resources
and expertise to deliver the project.
- 3.5.6. The high profile and recognition of
the Future Jobs Fund gives organisations the tools to make tackling
youth unemployment a priority: Being involved with the Future
Jobs Fund has enabled organisations to pursue their aims of tackling
youth unemployment. As well as giving organisations the resources
to employ young people, the Future Jobs Fund has equipped them
with the skills, experience and purpose to address this key issue.
- 3.5.7. Willingness of providers and employers
to support young people into employment: All the consortium partners
have come together to support unemployed young people through
the Future Jobs Fund. This project is working with young people
that are often not "work-ready". The good will of employers
in providing extra support to these vulnerable employees who not
normally be afforded such opportunities is essential in making
the Future Jobs Fund a success.
4. THE PROVIDER
AND EMPLOYER
PERSPECTIVE
4.1. The employment opportunities created for
the New Jobs New Future project have, in line with the Future
Jobs Fund criteria, been additional posts providing a wide range
of benefits to local communities. The discrete nature of the jobs
means that the opportunities are time limited. The consortium
partners have however found innovative ways of retaining staff
beyond the initial six months Future Jobs Fund positions. In Southampton,
for example, the Future Jobs Fund has contributed to 30 apprenticeships
within the local primary care trust.
4.2. With its rural, urban and coastal zones
the Hampshire and Isle of Wight sub-region affords a diverse range
of industries and as such project delivery requires multiple support
options. The flexibility of the Future Jobs Fund has allowed bespoke
delivery mechanisms to address need in a specific area.
4.3. Although not all employees have been recruited
"work-ready", the Future Jobs Fund allows for additional
support to be given, in most cases making the employee an asset
to the employer and adding value to the community initiatives
they are involved in. Many employers have found alternative employment
for their employee once the Future Jobs Fund opportunity is complete.
4.4. The Future Jobs Fund has enabled closer
working relationships between sectors and between multiple agencies.
The Jobcentre Plus Partnership managers have facilitated new relationships
between local authorities and Jobscentre Plus, which, whilst always
in existence were often not coordinated.
4.5. The delivery of the Future Jobs Fund is
however hindered by the seemingly unnecessary duplication of processes
and delays from other agencies. For example, the Future Jobs Fund
delivery requires a quick recruitment process, however waiting
on candidates to produce identification already supplied to Jobcentre
Plus and the unnecessarily long wait for CRB check, does cause
significant delays.
4.6. Future Jobs Fund candidates often undertake
extra support with Jobcentre Plus to move them towards work prior
to taking up a placement. In some cases this intervention is clearly
failing and results in a continuing need for intensive support
during the Future Jobs Fund placement.
5. THE EMPLOYEE
PERSPECTIVE
5.1. Current leaver data for the New Jobs, New
futures project shows that 47% of employees are moving on to other
employment following the completion of all or part of their Future
Jobs Fund opportunity. This statistic clearly demonstrates the
sustained improvement the Future Jobs Fund is making to the employment
prospects of young people.
5.2. The strengths of the new Jobs New futures
project in terms of its impact on young people's lives have been
observed and documented through numerous discussions held with
FJF employees and their managers, these being:
- 5.2.1. Young people have been given an opportunity
to learn and develop transferable skills to enable them to be
more competitive in the labour market. The Future Jobs Fund is
helping young people to adjust to work patterns and prepare them
for the world of work.
- 5.2.2. Young people are not simply given
a job, the approach of the Future Jobs Fund project equips them
with skills to find a job and learn about the competitive job
application process.
- 5.2.3. The Future Jobs Fund has seen placements
in various industries, broadening young people's mind to the opportunities
and career paths that they may have not previously considered.
- 5.2.4. The Future Jobs Fund improves young
people's confidence, skills and knowledge within particular industries.
- 5.2.5. The Future Jobs Fund project breaks
down barriers to employment for those young people faced with
long-term unemployment, learning and other disabilities and/or
troubled background increasing their chances of future employment.
- 5.2.6. The Future Jobs Fund gives young people
financial independence allowing them to contribute to the economy.
- 5.2.7. Giving young people the opportunity
to undertake work that genuinely benefits communities will engender
a sense of community pride and ownership in participants long
after the Future Jobs Fund programme.
5.3. The anecdotal evidence given by the employees
is strengthened by the leaver data showing an employment rate
of 47%. Additionally this is supported by two case studies in
Annex II
5.4. The employee experience on the whole has
been a positive one however the Short-term nature of a six month
contract in some cases appears to be too short for young people
to build solid transferable skills to enable them to compete confidently
in the open labour market.
6. Due to the successful delivery of the New
Jobs, New Futures project Hampshire County Council was eligible
to bid for further funding from the Future Jobs Fund. This would
have equated to another 900 jobs for unemployed young people across
the sub-region. The impact of the decision to end the Future Jobs
Fund in March 2011 rather than March 2012 has effectively reduced
the vacancies available to young people by 900 positions. The
Future Jobs Fund has facilitated extremely successful partnership
working and although lessons learnt are valuable, without the
delivery of a joint programmes such as the Future Jobs Fund, these
partnerships will diminish.
7. The nature of the transition from the Future
Jobs Fund to the Work Programme is unknown at this stage as consortium
partners have had little or no involvement in the development
of the Work Programme as there has been no consultation to date.
Hampshire County Council is already working closely with the National
Apprenticeship Scheme to deliver apprenticeships within the council
and is applying to become an Apprenticeship Training Association.
Apprenticeships will be an option to some Future Jobs Fund employees
but there is nor formal transition.
17 September 2010
34 ONS - DWP. Back
35
CIPD 2010 Resourcing and talent planning survey. Back
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