Opportunity for unemployed to learn new skills
A local business which provides training for the unemployed is one of 32 projects across the capital set to receive millions of pounds of new funding in a bid to get people back to work.
A4e in Woodger Road, Shepherd's Bush offers employment training and business skills for those trying to return to work. On a visit there last Thursday (May 14), the Mayor of London Boris Johnson announced the centre would be part of a £23 million programme to help 20,000 unemployed Londoners.
A4e, along with the other projects chosen, will target people who have not benefited from the mainstream welfare to work system. The projects will build on the knowledge and experience they have of working with people facing particular difficulties, including the long term unemployed, the newly unemployed lacking skills, refugees and the disabled. The personalised service on offer will be tailored to the individual, whether it is CV-writing help, interview training, skills acquisition or English language lessons.
The Mayor said: “I have a duty as Mayor to harness every revenue stream available that will benefit London and its workforce. This £23 million funding is a vital and welcome boost and greatly complements the work already underway in the capital to help ensure that Londoners have the skills and attributes needed to find work. This £23 million funding will help ensure that those Londoners who are out of work will receive the support they need, and businesses have increased access to a skilled workforce.”
The programme is being delivered through the London Development Agency (LDA), and is co-financed by the LDA and the European Social Fund.
Chief Executive of the London Development Agency, Peter Rogers, said: “For the first time, we are asking expert providers to tell us what works in their communities. We are committed to getting more Londoners into jobs or training and it is particularly important that we work with our partners to maintain the capital’s strength despite the economic downturn. We had an overwhelming number of applications for this funding and it was a difficult decision to identify the final recipients. We are confident that the providers selected will deliver real benefits to people in the capital.”
Payments to successful projects will be made according to results achieved, with payments for the number of people who are helped into training and then further payments for those who have been in work for at least six months. Paying employment providers by results has been proven to be effective in getting the jobless the support they need, while providing value for money for the taxpayer, according to the Mayor's office.
Other organisations that work in the local area and will benefit from the funding include Red Kite Learning, Local Employment Access, Women Like Us, Work Directions UK Ltd and Ealing, Hammersmith and West London College.
May 17, 2009
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