Working Links Wales

1. Working Links Wales

2. Todays Workshop • Introduction to Working Links • Work Programme – 1 year on • Welfare Reform – the major impact on the housing/support sector . • Group discussion. • Employment Now & the Future – our experience • So…….. what are the challenges for Housing & Tenants in an employer led market?.....Discussion

3. Working Links We deliver various contracts throughout the UK with training support and employment targets including: – Work Programme Scotland, Wales and the South West. High volume recruitment contracts based on 6 month sustains – Apprenticeships, National delivery in various sectors covering new and existing staff. Age range 16-65 – Young Britain Working, Support 16-25 year olds into work in conjunction with Work Programme Prime contractors throughout the UK – Ex Offenders, Working inside prisons to engage with prisoners due for release to help them onto a path of work and social inclusion.

4. Work Programme • UK Government’s flagship welfare to work programme - single programme to replace complex network of provision. • Pan Wales contract – 2 years on Programme + IWS Period • Combined client groups - (JSA & ESA) • Designed to offer tailored personalised support – innovation through ‘Black Box’ • Payments by results

5. Work Programme – 1 year on • We have already seen over 20,000 people join the programme. Estimates suggest 85% would be in some form of social / rented accommodation • Whilst its still too early to measure success – early indications are that WP remains on track to hit its targets for Job Outcomes. • Not with standing some challenges • Complexity of customer need. • Tough economic climate / changing labour market

6. Setting the scene for Housing/Support

7. Discussion– Tenants/Clients into Work

8. The current Labour Market • UK unemployment currently 8.1% • Wales 8.9% - 132,000 unemployed / 500,000 economically inactive • Increase in 18-24 year olds unemployed for 12 months • Male employment rates have increased • Female unemployment continues to rise. • Public sector Jobs continuing to decline

9. The current Labour Market • Significant increase in part time, temporary Jobs & the flexible labour pool. • virtually all large employers offer flexible working arrangements, as do 95% of medium-sized firms, 91% of small businesses and 85% of micro companies. • Part-time job vacancies account for approximately 23% of the market, but only 3% of those part-time roles pay a full-time equivalent (FTE) of more than £20,000. • Significantly Increased competition within the labour pool. Many people prepared to “drop down” levels to secure employment. • The sectors that are recruiting are changing form those of the past & thus the subsequent skills needed to succeed.

11. How do Employers recruit & Why ? At a UK level, “do-it-yourself” recruitment solutions attract the highest satisfaction scores; word of mouth / personal recommendation emerges as the channel which generated the highest level of satisfaction,

12. What are employers looking for ?

13. How Working links is addressing the recruitment challenge • Skilled team of sales / account managers promoting our services across Wales. • Account management process to understand fully what employers requirements are. • Offer a full end to end solution • Integrated employment and skills solution • Skills to succeed – Pre – Employment courses • Exclusivity & guaranteed interviews • Pre course vetting *essential* • On-going employer support – crucial • “Right skills” for the employer every time.

14. So…….. what are the challenges for Housing and Support Providers in an employer led market when supporting clients into work?? Discussion