The problem with Job Centres in the country today is that they have moved too far away from the people in our communities and from the original concept on which they were founded. This was the concept of ‘labour exchange’ and this name was above the doors of all offices in the UK for decades and signified the real purpose of such centres –the exchange of labour for payment and working conditions between the employees and the employers.

We have sadly lost this ‘exchange’ and the organisation today merely lists Jobs Available and lists Out of Work People available for work.

There is no training available, no matching of employees with employers and a very restrictive 7% only of the workforce who are available for work being referred from Job Centres. Most people move between jobs or move from school, College and University into employment - it is the 7% of those registered that are referred from Job Centres

Employability is for all people looking for purpose, a career or a job and it so happens that 90% and more of us are always in employment and have the same issues with the level of personal employability skills we possess as do those who are not in employment. Those who are in employment have been more lucky or have used their employability skills better or have been in the right place at the right time or have known someone who has helped them into their current job or they have fewer barriers to securing full time work – which are just some of the arguments for the lack of understanding between those in work and those without work.

So what do my centres for jobs currently deliver in 2 major centres in Scotland?

In Edinburgh we operate an ‘employability’ Academy and in East Kilbride an ‘employability’ EK Works centre which are both located in retail premises in busy shopping centres. See our web site www.employmententerprise.co.uk for more details.

These centres are open to all –all ages from 16 years to whatever age. They are open 6 days a week. They have expert staff on hand for advice and support.

We offer

- guidance and support in finding work

- employability modular training

- introductions to employers

- jobs specific training in areas such as retail, care, hospitality, construction

- short courses

- links to College courses

- support from specialist agencies such as Drugs rehab or alcohol advice

- links to local authority economic development programmes

- contacts with local agencies such as the Shaw Trust, YMCA, Healthy Working Lives, Apex etc

The clients who register are entitled to attend up to 3 days or 15 hours each week (this permits those who are registered for Job Seekers Allowance officially to attend without attracting any penalties)

They are assessed using the Bridges to Employability Soft Skills Assessment Framework and divided into 3 categories for an individualised personal development strategy by our experienced staff

A – Job ready or nearly job ready

B – Needing employability upskilling or Practical Skills training such as Retail, Construction, Hospitality, Catering

C – Intensive support, specialist agencies, employability training, community support

None of our clients will go near an employer unless they are ‘job ready’ which ensures that employers are keen to participate in a relationship with the Academy/EK Works

Each year we see over 1500 people going through the Academy in Edinburgh and EK Works will see nearly 2000 clients. In Edinburgh over 400 clients are placed into full time jobs and in East Kilbride the target is 500. We deliver the employability module to over 2500 participants.

And the costs?

To deliver a programme like the Academy described above will cost in the region of £200,000 each year in each location and this funding comes mostly from a partnership between the local Council, the local College, the management of the shopping centre and contributions from other training agencies. The unit cost per job is under £500 and the added value from training progressions to College courses, part time work, voluntary work and full time training is a bonus for the projects.

The client group breaks down very evenly into all age groups, gender, employed/unemployed, skilled/non-skilled, local/national/EU citizens and the outcomes follow the same evenly spread pattern.

Employability is for all and all can use employability training.

In the next few years I see great opportunities for all parties involved

-Savings in Central government spending by ‘outsourcing’ employability to the Private Sector

- Transfer of funding dependency for Employability Centres from local government to private sector employers. Employers spend around £5000-£8000 to recruit 1 new employee –this figure based on advertising, recruitment staffing, interviewing and induction.

What if employers contribute instead of public sector bodies to the running of the Employability Centres?

- Delivery of short upskilling programmes where necessary

- Partnership agreements to enhance the provision (we are now working with YMCA Glasgow who work with Asylum seekers and Refugees)

- Greater employer involvement in recruitment and training from local communities

Employability centres have to be at the heart of our communities with benefits for all – people, employers and community.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 7th, 2010 at 10:33 am and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.