The Work Programme was supposed to address all the problems, including training needs. The private providers would pay for skills training because it would increase clients' chances of getting work and so the companies' chances of making a profit. But Chris Grayling has acknowledged that that isn't going to work by announcing the setting-up of "sector-based work academies". However, there is no indication of who is to run these "academies" (silly word). The obvious answer would be Further Education Colleges, which already provide this skills training. But I wouldn't be surprised if this is yet another contract opportunity for the likes of A4e.
Thursday, 13 October 2011
Encouragement from Emma
Lots of publicity about the latest unemployment figures, particularly the number of young people without work. The Sun headlines "Nearly 1m young people out of work" and adds that the over-65s have been hit too. Who does the Sun go to for a comment? Yes, Emma Harrison, who is described as "Govt's family champion" rather than as someone who has become a multi-millionnaire from contracts to get people back to work (and who describes herself on Twitter as "welfare and social reform thinker and doer, tv and radio face and voice"). A4e isn't mentioned in the Sun. And what does Emma have to say? Nothing much. "Whatever the situation, you mustn't give up or give in," and similar words of encouragement. Nobody except the government talks about the Work Programme at the moment. None of the "case studies" cited by the Sun, or any of the media, refer to the WP or to any previous scheme.
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As soon as i heard about these academies, i thought I know who will run them.. or try to bid to run them. Since i have been to a4e they have said they will not fund any training (not sure they do forklift truck or security anymore), so i can see that she will set one up and get even more money from the state. I want to do a pttls course and i have been told time and again they wont fund it, even though i know at least 4 places that are crying out for people to teach computers. I would have to find all the money myself.
ReplyDeleteAnons' comment highlights the Catch 22 scenario faced my by jobseekers who wish to improve their employment prospects.
ReplyDeleteA4e, far from being a help, are a hinderance in this respect.
A4E refused to fund my CSCS card when I was doing ND back in June, they spent 3 months faffing about before they told me this and in doing so lost me a job, which a friend was "holding" for when I got the card. He said he couldn't wait any longer which was fair enough.
ReplyDeleteA4E had no comment to make about that and the JC have now paid for me to do it in the next couple of weeks, although it's too late really.
And yet JobCentre advisors are still informing people that training takes place at such establishments!
ReplyDeleteQuote Since i have been to a4e they have said they will not fund any training ......
ReplyDeleteThe same experience for me on Flexible New Deal with a4e last year ..... so no change then with the so called revolutionary Work Programme .....
THERES no change from the last time with FND, no change from ND, Its exactly the same, They have sent me to "train" for application forms, the EXACT same speech i have done 4 times before. This work program is the same as the last and the one before.
ReplyDeleteI'm on the WP and my provider is unwilling to fund any training for me.
ReplyDeleteI lost my mobile phone recently and they told me to purchase another quickly for as little as £10 prepay. When I enquired if they would be willing to part fund the purchase, as my very low income is already considerably stretched, my provider informed me that no such funding existed and that they were already operating to very tight financial margins.
If your a JSA 25+ claimant, the provider gets paid an 'attachment' fee of GBP 400 if they get you signed up within 15 days of being referred by the jobcentre to the Work Programme.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure they could easily manage a tenner for prepay mobile, as mentioned by Peoplesvoice.
Hmmm...was there not a scheme a few years ago to provide jobseekers with a free mobile phone? And was it not under the same scheme that provided vouchers to provide clothing such as a suit for interview and work purposes?
ReplyDeleteClearly this is the point of resistance: they want you to buy a mobile? Say no. They won't pay for a CSCS card (ffs!) then tell the JC when you next sign on. Make a lot of noise.
ReplyDeleteAnd if the government thinks the best voice on welfare reform et. all comes from capitalists like Emma Harrison? Oh hell no!
Its only a matter of time when you must have a mobile as part of your Jobseekers Agreement and will be required to bring it when you sign on. Failure will result in sanctions no doubt. I am joking! However I would not put it past them!
ReplyDeletePS You can still receive money for interview clothing.
It's up to you, Ghost Whistler, but I think you're wrong. Employers are increasingly using such things as social networking sites and email addresses to form opinions about people. We may not approve, but with so many people to choose from it can make the difference. Getting a new email address costs nothing.
ReplyDeleteWell noone else has ever commented on my email. The comment was passed on over a month ago from Tesco to the JC handling the application. Noone said anything then, neither did Tesco tell me directly (which you may argue is impractical, but I think a courtesy given they have decided to take time to apparently let the JC know what they think). I wonder if this isn't the JC themselves deciding this.
ReplyDeleteI don't use social media other than a blog and an email. If we go down this road then people will be discouraged from applications by virtue of posting on blogs like this or keeping one. It may cost nothing to set up a new hotmail account, but I believe in the principle of the thing. I might agree if an employer had the decency and the courtesy to talk to me in person or that I had an email that was blatantly and emphatically offensive. I do not, and if things like this really make the difference (it didn't - one look at the demographic of the people they chose for that job tells you all you need to know) then we are truly living in a very screwed up society.
Possibly Historian. It depends on the type of work you are applying for! Ghost Whistler might be applying for a position in a tattoo parlour! lol
ReplyDeleteineedwork@a4e.com might go down well with the Job Centre!
PS It is not a good idea to publish your email address here Ghost Whistler as the search engines pick them up and you then lay yourself open to spam.
Maybe Historian can edit your post .....
I can't edit posts, just publish or reject. If Ghost Whistler wants me to take off his comment I'm happy to do so.
ReplyDeleteThe whole issue of one's identity on the internet is a difficult one. So many people get into dire trouble because they post something online without thinking that other people are going to read it. The people behind Facebook think that we should have a single identity and put it all on their site. But if you go with that you have to accept that others, those with power, may not like you. We all have to adapt to others' expectations.
I have a dedicated email address just for jobs. I use it for nothing else. Its so i know where everything is.
ReplyDeleteYes good idea! Sometimes email ends up in the wrong place ..... like the real world!
ReplyDeleteI am presently on the work programme with working links in Cardiff and they have three categories that include an academy. For people who are job ready they go in the hub and just apply for job vacancies. People who are thought to have moderate barriers to employment are put in the academy. It's sad to use academy for doing things like confidence building and application forms etc.
ReplyDeletePeople with so called significant barriers to employment are put in compass. People are put into these categories based on answers to an online questionnaire. As many have said it's just like flexible new deal and the old new deals.
Imagine telling everyone that you are off to the academy to study application forms.