Hull in print : Feature - Your Council creating new earning opportunities for you

In jobs for Christmas: L-R (back row) Jeana Stace, Jessica Wilson, David Ita, Claire Taylor, Charles Wright, Paige Broadley, Esther Arthur, Nenelu Samba; (middle row) Kelly Cooling, Mandy Raywood, Leyla Jorna, Severine Kipili, Sharon Olney, Mariusz Sochacki; (front row) Terry Morris, Mark McAlpine, Obinna Okeke

They are from different backgrounds and different parts of the city, but these people have one thing in common.
They have all been helped into jobs through the Local Work Guarantee Scheme (LWG).
One person in this group was made redundant from a top job with a financial services firm, another struggled to find work after leaving the army, while another had not worked for many years.
But they have all seen their lives turn around for the better thanks to LWG.
"This has been a tough year for many families, especially with the collapse of companies locally," says Bob Ferraby, of Hull City Council's Regional Development Service, which manages the scheme.
"But the good news is that hundreds of people will be financially better off this festive season as a result of LWG."

Changing lives

The scheme helps people who are claiming incapacity benefit, or who have been claiming Jobseeker's Allowance for less than a year.
"Some people have been made redundant and have been really struggling to find another job," says Rachel Green, senior employment coach at JobSteps, one of the organisations delivering LWG in partnership with the council.
"Even with really good work skills it doesn't mean you're going to walk into another job.
"But LWG is a great chance for people who want to work and don't mind changing their career.
I would say it's really changed the lives of some people quite dramatically."

Brush up on job skills

Under LWG, participants are employed for the first three months on a community-based project, which could involve anything from office work, to gardening, to looking after the elderly, or working in a crèche or for a charity.
"Many of us might not be at our best when we start a new job, but this period gives people a chance to learn about qualities valued by employers," adds Bob.
"That could be punctuality, team-working, following instructions or learning about health and safety.
"It's also a chance for people to improve their maths and English skills, where needed."

Help for employers

During the first three months, participants also receive help to find a permanent job, and might take part in work trials with potential long-term employers.
At the end of the period, the aim is that as many participants as possible will move into long-term jobs.
And the employers who take on these staff will be offered wage subsidies of £75 per week per employee for the first 36 weeks.
During that time employers will be expected to offer the employee a training plan which will lead to a Level 2 qualification (the equivalent of five GCSEs).
The LWG project is also paying wage subsidies to Hull employers who take on graduates or apprentices.
"The aim is to prevent a 'brain drain' to other parts of the country," says Bob.
"We need to create a more skilled and educated workforce in Hull so we can compete more efficiently in the global economy."
As an added incentive for participants, six months into their long-term employment contract, employees are paid a bonus of £250 (paid by the regional development agency Yorkshire Forward).

info

The LWG project aims to get 1,500 people into short-term jobs by the end of 2010, with 900 of them expected to secure a long-term employment contact.
Funding for LWG comes from the ONE HULL partnership, which is made up of public and private sector organisations working together to create a better Hull.
The LWG scheme is being delivered by a range of organisations across the city that help job seekers find work and training.
They include Probe, Latitude, Goodwin Training Services, City Works, JobSteps and Skills4Communities The LWG project is just one of the schemes being run by Hull City Council and its partners to help the unemployed.
For more information about it and other projects call 300 300 or visit www.hullcc.gov.uk and www.growinhull.co.uk


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