‘Hackney Works employment support service more crucial than ever now that furlough scheme has ended’
Unemployed residents are being urged to take advantage of the Council’s free employment support service now that the Government’s furlough scheme has come to an end.
Hackney Works can help residents navigate the job market by providing one to one tailored advice from a specialist advisor on exploring transferable skills, careers, progressions into work, and links to specialist services.
Whether you’re looking for your first job, you want to progress further, or you’ve been out of work for a while; Hackney Works advisors can help you to achieve your goals.
With the Government’s furlough scheme coming to an end, it is now more important than ever for Hackney’s residents to be supported in a challenging labour market.
Hackney Works is crucial to residents who may have lost their jobs as the end of the furlough scheme approached and where their employers were unable to keep them on.
As a Council we are doing our utmost to help residents find employment and take advantage of the fantastic opportunities available in the borough. Especially as the coronavirus pandemic has laid bare that urgent need to ensure our residents are connected to high quality employment, well paid work and career progression.
Partnership work with jobs providers is all part of our Inclusive Economy strategy which focuses on the creation of meaningful, quality paid employment opportunities for Hackney residents and school leavers, ensuring everyone can benefit from Hackney’s economic growth.
In September employment, training and skills provider Ingeus officially opened its new centre in Hackney. The Central London Works programme - managed by Central London Foundation and delivered by Ingeus - has supported hundreds of Hackney residents into work this year alone.
And a five-floor Jobcentre Plus opened for business in June of this year after the Council completed the letting of the Annex at 2 Hillman Street to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). This built on the Council’s collaboration with DWP and partners New City College to enhance opportunities for young people in the borough, many of whom have been hit hard by the pandemic financially and face entering a challenging labour market.
Hackney Works is working within the building in partnership with Jobcentre Plus to maximise resources and ensure that our local knowledge and expertise can be used to boost access to work for residents who are suffering from unemployment. This joint collaboration builds on the MoU signed by Mayor Glanville and Dave Keogh, Group Partnership Manager London, JCP back in March.
Young people visiting the Jobcentre Plus can get involved in the paid Kickstart scheme, which is helping to put 16 to 24 year olds on universal credit to launch their careers, with placements on offer in Hackney industries including technology, fashion and the green economy.
Funding covers the relevant National Minimum Wage for 25 hours a week over six months, with the Council asking employers to top up wages to a minimum of £8.72 per hour.
Residents can find out more about job and placement opportunities by signing up to the Council’s Hackney Works newsletter here.