The CBI's Annual Conference recently held a panel debate with the title "Good for Britain, good for business, good for growth". A4e's Emma Harrison was on the panel. Two other members are also bosses of outsourcing companies (Circle Health and Apetito, which provides catering services to hospitals). So you can see why the word "good" was being stressed. The Yorkshire Post described Harrison as "chairman of Sheffield social purpose firm A4e, which gets people into work", and reports that "Ms Harrison urged firms to 'do well by doing good'." This is a familiar mantra of Harrison. It doesn't seem to have been her only contribution. Michael Gillick, boss of a company called Paritas Ltd, tweeted to her, "A colleague said your speech at the CBI conference was inspirational. Is it published anywhere?" Emma replied that they were filming so it could be on the CBI's website.
BBC cameras were in the Liverpool A4e office for a news item about the Work Programme shown on 7 November. A4e say that the two young people filmed are being followed by the reporter, Mark Easton. So can we expect that all the stops will be pulled out to get these two into jobs? I hope so, for their sakes. Meanwhile, another contract enables A4e to say that it is "assisting in helping service heroes start their own business". This involves money from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills awarded to the Royal British Legion to help service leavers start their own businesses. The RBL have naturally sub-contracted this to firms like A4e.
Don't you mean the 7th of December? ;-)
ReplyDeleteNo, it was a news item on 7 November. They didn't make much of the fact that it was A4e.
ReplyDeleteThere you go! http://www.cbi.org.uk/media-centre/videos/2011/11/emma-harrison-on-how-businesses-can-build-export-markets/ Words fail me at this point as they do Emma!!!
ReplyDeleteThis must ave passed most of us by then!
ReplyDeleteOne thing I've noticed though is that BBC radio seems to be rather more willing to make questioning and / or critical programs on govt 'back to work' programs than BBC television which takes a more shall we say 'public opinion / popularist' point of view!
If the Royal British Legion is spending good money raised by the annual poppy appeal along with govt. grants, I for one will be writing a letter of complaint. I expect the monies I donate to be used wisely in providing for service men/women (and their families), and not wasted by lining the pockets of the likes of Ms Harrison.
ReplyDeleteBBC north west is having a whole week of work programme shows.. The first was about the CAB, the second she questioned grayling how there are hardly any jobs here. If you have sky its on 6.30.
ReplyDeleteWhen i read ""Good for Britain, good for business, good for growth" why did i think then phrase Double plus good?
ReplyDeleteI have Freesat. I should be able to get it then. Thanks Anonymouse, I'll check it out this evening.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-15816490, this is the stuff that was on monday, tuesday. There, the staff said that it was "not unusual to see between 80 and 100 people" in a day, many of whom were having benefits-related problems.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzdzdENLL8A.. here is tuesdays. out of 1200 they have only got 100 into jobs.. There series is called welfare warfare.
ReplyDeleteInspirational?
ReplyDeleteThe Scottish Government I see will fund certain courses costing up to £500 for adults 16 and over with an income of less than £22000.
That may be of use to some of your contributers here.
http://www.ilascotland.org.uk.
There used to be the same scheme in England but it was discontinued. Not sure about Wales and Northern Ireland ..... Try googling.
Up is down and night is day in Grayling's world.
ReplyDeleteThere's none so blind as those that refuse to see.
The same old Work Programme blather 'tailored support this or tailored help that'. What is tailored about telling someone to apply for 4 jobs a week? Where is the help when that person says he can't find 4 jobs a week. Oh but there's 'work out there'. Well problem solved.
What on earth are we going to do? This clown is not fit for purpose.
From what i experienced the help is do this or else..
ReplyDeleteI was ordered yesterday to apply for volunteer jobs.. Not a4e getting me a placement. but to apply for voluntary jobs.. Now this brings up something interesting If i go there i get trained up by them to get experience then i apply for a"proper" job i will leave and that charity has wasted the training and costs and the experience. And then a4e will claim they got me a job. (but you can only work for 15hours at this charity or your money will be stopped)
Which doesn't help a charity? does it?
Anon: I do voluntary work, and unless the rules have changed the 16 hour a week limit does not apply to voluntary work.
ReplyDeleteI've heard A4e and other providers are also telling their clients not to tell the charity that they have been sent by them. So they can try to avoid paying the charity. There' been quite a lot in the charity sector news about this.
If you refused to sign the Data Protection waiver at your induction your provider will find it difficult to claim an outcome payment in the event you secure paid employment after doing voluntary work!
In relation to your last point. The charity i work for does not mind volunteers getting into paid employment (several have). Quite the opposite, it reflects well on them
Your third paragraph, Teflon Don - is it anything other than hypothetical? Do you know of any actual instances of this?
ReplyDeleteNo, all the information I have is secondhand i.e. people claiming they have refused to sign. And I am not aware of any of them securing paid employment
ReplyDelete