| answer text |
<p>Universal Credit (UC) claimants are required to undertake activity to address skills
needs if this will help them enter and retain employment or find better paid work.
Jobcentre Plus Work Coaches engage with claimants to identify and address these needs
through options ranging from the Department for Education’s Skills Bootcamps; careers
advice from National Careers Service advisors, many of whom are co-located in Jobcentre
offices or DWP’s successful (Sector Based Work Academy Programmes).</p><p>DWP’s Sector-based
Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs) help employers who have immediate and future employment
needs by providing short work focussed opportunities to fill local job vacancies.
Through the adult education budget, Government funds the skills training that employers
require and in return employers agree to offer work experience placements and a guaranteed
offer of an interview for a live vacancy. Data for the financial years 2021/22, 2022/23
and 2023/24 to date shows that, as of 28 January 2024, there were a total of 266,330
starts to a Sector-based Work Academy Programme. Final start figures for 2023/24 will
be available early next financial year.</p><p>For claimants who need vocational and
essential skills training (English/maths/digital), to support their work search goals,
it was announced at Spring budget 2023 that the length of time UC claimants can undertake
full time work-related training has been extended to up to 16 weeks. This means eligible
claimants are able to access a wider range of courses, including those made available
through the DfE Free Courses for Jobs initiative.</p><p> </p><p>Additionally, local
Jobcentre Plus partnership teams work directly with colleges and training providers
in their area to ensure claimants have access to the right skills support. Jobcentre
Plus partnership leads also participate in DfE’s employer representative body led
Local Skills improvement Partnerships across England, which are articulating local
employer skills needs for consideration by colleges and local training providers.</p>
|
|
