London Apprenticeship Company

www.welfare-employment-skills-conference.co.uk  - 31st March 2011

The afternoon was filled with informative seminars about the implications of the Work Programme. See below Govnet’s Press Release summarising the event

Delivering the Work Programme

Adam Sharples, Director-General of the Employment Group at the Department for Work and Pensions opened the recent GovNet Welfare, Employment and Skills conference with an update on the progress of the Work Programme. He announced that with the design work for the programme completed, the results of the competition to appoint the providers would be declared very soon. Following this, the first customers will be moved onto this programme at the beginning of June. By investing in and moving people into work and off benefits, he said, there would be a win for the taxpayer, a win for the individual and a win for the economy.

Discussing the role of providers, Laurie Russell, Chief Executive of The Wise Group expressed that social enterprise would be vital. By developing a trusting relationship with employers, housing agencies, the public sector, the private sector and communities, and developing innovative approaches, social enterprises such as the Wise Group would be well positioned to deliver excellent services. Among the key areas that had been important to their current projects, placing those seeking work into good jobs – which pay the living wage rather than the minimum wage, and provide excellent post-employment support – had been key to ensuring sustainability.

Darra Singh, Chief Executive at Job Centre Plus also explained how local connections would remain important in this process. Job Centre Plus, he said, would continue to play a key role, prior to the involvement of the work programme providers, in working with customers.
With large changes to the welfare system and the implementation of the Work Programme, Welfare, Employment and Skills provided an excellent insight into how the public, private and voluntary sectors will need to work together to reduce unemployment and link employment to skills.

For more information and images from this year’s conference please contact Laura Evans on 0207 484 5640 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit http://www.welfare-employment-skills-conference.co.uk/.

NOTES TO EDITORS

GovNet Communications is the UK's leading Public Sector publisher and events organiser with a 10 year track record of delivering news and data via targeted publications and key conferences. For more information please visit www.govnet.co.uk.