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Unemployment action welcomed

The Government announcement last week to offer private firms and voluntary groups cash rewards to get unemployed people into work has been warmly welcomed in Teesside.

The plans announced involve about 250,000 long-term unemployed people and all new claimants for sickness benefits. The Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell said a “radical blueprint” was needed to get people into “sustainable” jobs.

People Development Group (PPDG), which has offices in Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, has been running its Employment Zone scheme for nearly four years. During which time more than 5100 formerly unemployed people have secured jobs.

Steve King, managing director of PPDG, said: “The move is a major boost for hundreds of thousands of long-term unemployed people who want to work but who need additional support in order to overcome various obstacles. “What the Government has announced makes absolute sense and it is an approach that we have been advocating for many years.

“Sustainability for those entering employment is a crucial factor and of those we help into work, around 80% retain their jobs beyond the accepted benchmark of 13 weeks.”

Work and Pensions Secretary Mr Purnell will shortly unveil plans for a “commissioning strategy”, that will see more private companies and voluntary groups involved in finding work for people on benefits. New contractors are expected to be offered incentives for getting people into work for at least six months, with further incentives planned in the future for increasing it to 18 months.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .