News Tag: Employability Day

Employability Day, 30 April 2021, is the UK’s largest celebration for organisations supporting often disadvantaged people to gain, sustain and progress in work. Led by the Employment Related Services Association (ERSA), it’s an annual opportunity for the employability sector to celebrate all that it accomplishes and wants to achieve for jobseekers in the UK. In these unprecedented times, as the sector’s work proves to become more crucial than ever, ERSA is leading the call for people of all professional and personal backgrounds to consider a career in employability.

With recent Government contract announcements of the new Restart employability programme, the sector is at its busiest in terms of levels of financial support and expansion. Over a course of three years, the Restart funding package of £2.9b will help over 1 million unemployed people find work in England and Wales as the employability sector manages and proactively changes the challenge of unemployment during and following Covid-19.

With all hands on deck for the next few years, the industry itself must upscale at pace and fill a diverse range of positions, across all levels of skills and expertise. In a nutshell, the sector itself, who are themselves employers, is short staffed and requires jobs to be filled as a matter of urgency.

Minister for Employment Mims Davies MP said:

“As we progress along the roadmap to recovery and key sectors of the economy reopen, the employability sector is playing a vital role in matching those looking for work with the increasing number of vacancies out there and helping people to progress.

“This Employability Day, I’d encourage everyone to explore the plethora of opportunities available in the sector itself, and help us level up opportunity across the country as we push to build back better.”

Elizabeth Taylor, CEO of ERSA, the membership body for the employment support sector, says:

“Our sector has a breadth of roles to be filled, from frontline advisers, trainers, and youth workers to wellbeing professionals, admin and IT staff. The sector offers fulfilling roles, professional career development and accreditations. All wrapped up in a buoyant, growing and innovative industry, working with like-minded people to help those that need it most.

“Employability is a hidden industry – an area you might know little about unless you’ve had first-hand experience of unemployment – but it’s a sector that embraces the skills and lived-experiences that workers can bring from other areas.”

Jayne Garner, now Head of Delivery for major employability provider Ingeus, is a case in point. 20 years ago, Jayne worked in the heady, high flying world of recruitment, but became disillusioned, knowing her skills could be put to better use. She became a frontline advisor, working with long term unemployed people, and hasn’t looked back. She is now an award winning driving force in enhancing the long term life chances of people to find and sustain employment, managing a team of 120 colleagues to do just the same.

Jayne adds: “I didn’t appreciate the opportunities that were open to me within the employability sector, but when I did, I made the decision to take the plunge and not regret something I hadn’t done. It was the best decision I ever made, and today I embrace the challenges that each day brings me. At the end of every day, I know my efforts have made that difference and that my day-to-day is worthwhile.”

Interested in the opportunities the employability industry offers? The ERSA website lists ERSA members’ vacancies for the new DWP Restart Programme: https://ersa.org.uk/restartjobs

or search online for employability jobs:  

https://findajob.dwp.gov.uk/search?q=employability+&w=

https://jobs.theguardian.com/landingpage/2868250/jobs-employability-html/

https://uk.indeed.com/Employability-jobs

https://www.totaljobs.com/jobs/employability

https://www.red5people.co.uk/job-category/employment-support/

https://www.thelevycompany.co.uk/employability

https://www.alderwoodrecruitment.com/employability-welfare-work-jobs

https://www.myiep.uk/page/IEPTalentAcademy

Employers with live vacancies (including employability organisations themselves) are invited to contact the prime provider partnership for free recruitment and employability services: https://www.dwppartners.co.uk/get-in-touch/

ENDS

Picture caption:

Elizabeth Taylor, CEO of trade body ERSA calls on jobseekers and career switchers to support the unprecedented boost in demand for employability services.

For further media information please contact:

Helen Wardle, Fivefold Ltd: 07757 355339 helen@fivefold.ltd

Notes to Editors:

About ERSA

The Employment Related Services Association (ERSA) is the representative body for the employment support sector.

ERSA’s membership spans the private, voluntary, and public sectors and ranges from large multi-nationals through to small specialist charities.

www.dev.ersa.org.uk

With the latest ONS employment figures showing that between December 2020 to February 2021, an estimated 1.67 million people were unemployed, up 311,000 on the same period the previous year, the Covid-19 pandemic has hit jobseekers hard. 

National Employability Day takes place on the 30th of April  and will shine a light on the services, solutions and often life-changing support available to individuals from organisations that will play an important role as part of a jobs-led recovery from Covid-19. 

Amidst an uncertain labour market, employment and health specialist, Seetec Pluss, is helping thousands of people to reskill and move back into employment, creating fresh hope and opportunity for local people and their families.    

Chris Harrison, Executive Director of Seetec Pluss, said: “After an incredibly difficult year, employment services have a more vital role than ever, supporting both the economic and social recovery by helping individuals to fulfil their potential in communities impacted the most by the pandemic. High quality employment support is needed to help close the gaps between advantaged and disadvantaged groups, making sure no-one is left behind as part of an inclusive recovery.” 

From new graduates, to those that re-skill and change careers, through to individuals facing unemployment in their later years, too many working lives have been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic. But people like Maisie, Wayne and Rex are now finding employment to help stabilise the economy and the UK’s recovery. 

First-class honours graduate Maisie Tucker, 21, from Oxfordshire, struggled to find a job at the height of the pandemic after completing her history degree. Her dream was to work in one of Oxford’s world-renowned museums – a tough sector to break into at any time, let alone during a period of enforced closure. 

Maisie, who was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome while at university, joined the Work and Health Programme, funded by the Department for Work and Pensions and the European Social Fund, in November. 

She worked with her Change Coach, to define her goals, identify suitable work opportunities and prepare applications and supporting statements, as well having a mock interview before facing her first three-stage panel selection process, leading to a job offer. 

Maisie said: “This is my biggest achievement to date and I really look forward to see what is in store for me next as I start my role at the Ashmolean Museum.” 

Change Coach Alice Lorge, from Seetec Pluss partner Activate Learning, added: “Maisie has been open to advice and trying different avenues to secure meaningful employment. I am excited for her as she launches her career within her ideal sector and I look forward to providing in-work support to ensure asmooth transition.” 

Wayne Bassnett, 63, from The Wirral, was referred to Job Entry Targeted Support (JETS), a separate strand of the Work and Health Programme (WHP), delivered in the North West by Seetec Pluss. JETS provides tailored support to individuals made unemployed due to the impact of Covid-19. 

Wayne, a qualified social worker of 25 years, was plummeted into unemployment when the pandemic hit and he had to self-isolate. 

Wayne explained: “I went from being on £23 an hour, to £12 a day. I’m not a materialistic man, but I couldn’t afford my internet bill, so I had to park up where I could use free Wi-Fi. The change in my circumstances meant I had to total up the cost of my food on a calculator to make sure I had enough money.” 

Wayne was unemployed for a year before joining the JETS programme and his Employment Advisor, Anna, not only helped him to get started with his job search activities , but also encouraged him to feel more confident about the future, which reduced the sense of social isolation  he had felt for some time. 

Wayne added: “It was nice to have someone to talk to, sometimes in these dark times you need a little light. I needed some encouragement and that’s what they gave me.” 

Wayne is now completing his training for a new role working for the Department for Work and Pensions – he deals with enquiries for people applying for Universal Credit – a full circle from the position he was in himself. 

He concluded: “I’d say to anyone considering joining JETS that they’ve got nothing to lose. By joining JETS, you’re taking back control. I’m moving forward thanks to the JETS programme.” 

Rex Watkins, 27, from Hampshire, was originally a barber but, due to Covid-19, was unable to continue in the sector.  

Through the support of his Employment Advisor, Rex looked at his existing skill set and matched his strengths with the viable career options available in the jobs market. Seetec Pluss partner Maximus, supported Rex to achieve his CSCS card, meaning he could look for longer term roles within the construction industry. He also secured temporary employment in a warehouse near where he lives. 

Rex is currently in temporary work on construction sites in Reading. He hopes to combine returning to his work as a barber with construction jobs on days he is not in the salon. 

Rex said: “The JETS programme is fantastic and has really helped me to re-train and put positive steps in place to improve my future prospects.” He also hopes to fulfil his dream to build his own home.   

Rex’s Employment Advisor, Emma, said: “Rex has given 100 per cent commitment to the programme and taken on board everything we suggested. He is a real credit to himself. Rex has taken a challenging situation and turned it into a positive.” 

As a prime provider of the Work and Health Programme, Seetec Pluss has helped over 6,000 participants towards and into sustainable employment. Seetec Pluss has also specifically supported over 2,900 participants to achieve job outcomes on the JETS programme (an expansion of the Work and Health Programme) since it was launched in October 2020. To stimulate a jobs-led recovery, a greater focus on active labour market policies, which support upskilling those in the labour market alongside enhanced employment assistance, is needed to better support jobseekers at this time of great uncertainty. 

Elizabeth Taylor, Chief Executive of the Employment Related Services Association, said:  

“Employability Day is the perfect platform to demonstrate the wealth of support, experience and innovation offered by the employability sector. Year on year, Seetec Pluss takes a leading role in the day and 2021 is no exception. 

“Given the changing face of employment in the past year, it is imperative to make social value and meaningful support for those that need it most the essence of our delivery. Seetec Pluss’ Employability Day schedule does just that – bringing together partners and commissioners, while also offering practical advice and guidance for jobseekers and employers. There’s also the opportunity to look at careers within the employability sector as we resource and prepare for unprecedented demand for our services.  

“Seetec Pluss and other providers should justifiably showcase their outstanding work and we look forward to celebrating an Employability Day like no other with them.” 

Employability Day on the 30th of April (#EmpDay21), organised by the Employment Related Services Association (ERSA), celebrates the diverse services and solutions provided by employment support organisations, and their success in helping individuals to enter or progress into jobs.  

ENDS 

Photos: Maisie Tucker, Wayne Bassnett and Rex Watkins 

Notes to Editors 

Latest employment figures from the Office for National Statistics are available on the government website  

Tell us about your organisation for Employability Day!

ERSA is developing a provider platform for the employment support sector
Separate to the ERSA website and our new digital offer, this is a platform developed by the sector, for the sector, for jobseekers, for commissioners, for employers.

The Skills, Employment, Training and Help (AskSeth.org) Directory and Hub will provide visitors with information and contact details for relevant employability and skills organisations in their local area. 

We are starting with our core membership organisations and will be ready to showcase, soon. 

We know from research, organisations deliver far more than their websites promote. During the pandemic many have been forced to diversify and adapt their services coming up with new ways of reaching customers. Our members don’t always have the funding or capacity to keep websites updated – the ERSA Team know this all too well. Not everyone has a budget to market their services and this can be a real barrier for growth. Via ERSA forums and roundtables we hear first hand the important work being done across the UK, in communities, making a difference to those that need it the most.  Algorithms as we have seen in the press recently, can only tell us a version of the story. So, regardless of the size of your organisation, wherever you are delivering employability services, locally or across the four countries of the UK, online, or a combination of both – we need your help! 

Tell us where and what employment support you are delivering 
Please highlight your organisational specialisms so that your organisation is well represented on the site. The information provided can be amended and updated at any time, allowing for changes in service. ERSA may also use this information to update the ERSA membership directory, or to contact you with relevant opportunities that may be of interest. ERSA’s Privacy Policy can be found here.

If you have any questions, please email us at membership@ersa.org.uk. To make sure your organisation is included correctly when the site first goes live, please complete this quick form as soon as possible!

We are on track to launching the platform on 30 April as part of Employability Day.

Our main focus for the day will be promoting the incredible, diverse services and often life changing support our members offer to individuals, employers, governments, commissioners and communities. 

So this year, instead of telling us what you are planning for employability day, tell us about all the valuable services you provide everyday!

Thinking of joining ERSA?
Now is a great time to get exposure for your service offer. More information on becoming an ERSA member can be found here.

Let’s get started, it will only take around 10 minutes, one response per organisation please.

Option 1: Tell us about your organisation (surveymonkey)
Option 2: Tell us about your organisation (google form)

Please only complete one online option above, they both contain the same information!

Not the right person to complete this information for your organisation? Please could you forward to the most appropriate contact to make sure we have reached them. 

Interested in featuring in the platforms video library?

The power of the new platform is in communicating messages through expert video testimonies.

Would you, a colleague or customer like to share your knowledge and expertise, or perhaps your story, through a video Q&A format which will be hosted and accessed on the platform? We are looking for frontline advisers and practitioner’s top tips along with clients to tell their story! Interested? Please get in touch with the team for more details. 

Want to know more?
The ERSA Team delivered an information session in March, invites sent to all those that completed the information. In case you missed it, you can watch the session below for more information. 

Watch an information and feedback session here

If your organisation has already submitted your entry, thank you – you will be invited in the near future to view the live demo and we will will soon start sharing all the ways in which you can support the platform and promote your offer. 

Thanks in advance!

The ERSA Team
membership@ersa.org.uk 
@ERSA_news

On Friday 26 June 2020, organisations supporting local people to gain, sustain and progress in work will come together to celebrate Employability Day. Coordinated by the Employment Related Services Association (ERSA), hundreds of businesses, charities and other bodies usually open their doors to raise awareness about how they support local people.  This year we are on-line demonstrating how we have adapted our delivery in extraordinary times.

Employability Day links to resources and further information;

The #EmpDay20 interactive Map

https://ersa.org.uk/empdaymap

Employability Day Website
https://ersa.org.uk/empday

Employability Day Toolkit

Access the toolkit here

Information to contact your local stakeholders

https://ersa.org.uk/Empday20/resources

Tell ERSA what you are planning

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/EmpDay20

Twitter

Follow and tag us

@ERSA_news
@ERSA_scotland
@ERSA_CEO

#EmpDay20
#Employability

Linkedin

Employment Related Services Association (ERSA)
https://www.linkedin.com/company/employment-related-services-association-ersa-/

The ERSA YouTube Channel

Featuring a sample of the ERSA Employability Awards 2020 nominations, please use #ERSAAwards20 when promoting across social media

https://bit.ly/ERSAYouTube

Employability Day is now on Facebook

https://facebook.com/empday20

Other social media

We’re not currently Instagram but please send links to us via empday@ersa.org.uk so we can promote through our other channels for you.

Further information:

empday@ersa.org.uk