Housing and Worklessness Seminar CESI Housing and Worklessness Seminar 21 January 2012 Victoria Whittle Head of Ready2Work

Affinity Sutton 57,000 homes 120 LA’s 100 year heritage single group big developer social purpose A key point is that we are very spread out so we have to think of national scalable approaches Many DI projects are traditionally very local (eg. wi-fi’ing up a block) but in common with the rest of our CI programmes we want our DI programme to be available to all as far as possible, this has influenced our approach

Ready2Work – what do we do? “Help residents to access training and employment opportunities that will help to enhance their lives” 2013/14 – 446 into work, 1650 into training, 41 apprenticeships, 30 business start-ups GuideLine Pre-employment Employment Engagement In-work Support Externally-funded programmes Resident Grants programme Key role in welfare reform In-Work Support Guideline: Our telephone-based Information advice and guidance service and main entry point into Ready 2 Work and Financial Inclusion Pre-employment – National team of 15 Team Leader and Manager Employment Support Officers, who provide 1:1 IAG, wrap around service, placements. Resident engagement, Basic Skills and employability support, Workshops and Work Clubs, Confidence building, Training courses, Online e-learning courses, Vocational training for work and referral to specialist agencies Employment Engagement – Manager, Team leader and 4 Employer Engagement Officers, work with over 25 companies to source employment opportunities including British Gas, My Time, ISS, Meridian Hotels, Royal Household Commission work out to agency where we haven’t got a physical presence ie Bradford, K&C Retrain - £250 to £1000 Re-Work – up to £150 Business Start up – up to £1000 Key interventions for residents affected by Welfare reform – rapid response, fast track. Current cases supported xxxxxxxx Work programme – in Bromley, A4E subcontract, 42 % AS residents In-work support – 6 months, monthly & bi-monthly contact with resident and employer, on-line toolkit

Ready 2 Work – What do we offer? Pre-employment services: Direct and telephone based 1:1 Information, Advice and Guidance Basic Skills and employability support workshops On-line training Direct vocational training for work CV building Interview workshops

Ready 2 Work – What do we offer? Employer Services Fast Track employment – Guaranteed Interview Scheme via Local/National employers Agreements Apprenticeships – Internal & External opportunities Employer led pre-employment Training – supporting employers skills gap – guaranteed interview scheme Work placement opportunities Interview MOT In work support for up to 26 weeks

Ready 2 Work– Resident Grants Support Grants – 3 types: Business start-up support - Opportunity to apply for up to £1000 for a new business idea - To help turn an idea into a reality! – AS residents Re-Train - Grants of up to £250 (special consideration for level 3 or above) - Aims to help residents access training that will enhance their career or help move them closer to employment – AS residents Re-Work - Grants of up to £150 - Aims to help remove barriers and support residents to access opportunities that have been secured for either work placements or paid employment. Costs covered: work wear, travel or specialist equipment required for the role – Open to all residents

Ready 2 Work – How we do it? The National Offer Mixture of direct and remotely delivered support Regional R2W Officers: Salford Plymouth Birmingham South Shields Haywards Heath Borehamwood Bromley Develop more localised and responsive partnerships and programmes Deliver face to face support to residents in high priority areas Develop direct opportunities for residents to access training and employment opportunities

Ready 2 Work – Guideline Guideline – National Offer Telephone based Information Advice and Guidance service (i) Employment support: Accessing training Job Search Skills Volunteering Opportunities Employment Opportunities Retention (ii) Money Matters: Budgeting Bank accounts Maximising income Reducing debt