STOCKTON-ON-TEES — A government-funded job support pilot scheme, JobsPlus, in 10 neighbourhoods across England reported that 27 percent of more than 1,000 participants achieved a positive employment outcome between July 2024 and December 2024. The Department for Work and Pensions funds the scheme, which focuses on intensive support in areas with predominantly social housing.
The Institute for Employment Studies conducted an evaluation of the pilot. The evaluation found that the pilot engaged residents who typically require longer and more intensive support before achieving employment. Residents of social housing are nearly twice as likely to be unemployed as the general population, while many scheme participants face barriers such as caring responsibilities or health conditions.
The Youth Futures Foundation also supports the JobsPlus scheme. Community champions at each site engage local residents, and caseworkers provide one-to-one support to participants. The caseworkers also connect participants with local employers, Jobcentre Plus offices, and National Health Service facilities. The scheme provides financial assistance for interview clothing and transport, and a 400-pound bonus for participants who find employment and remain in it for two months. The evaluation determined this bonus was useful, but not central to achieving employment.
The pilot locations include Stockton-on-Tees, Toxteth, Wirral in Merseyside, and Penge in south London. The department funds these pilot schemes until March. An evaluation found participants reported improvements in mental health, including reduced anxiety, low mood, and social isolation. Many participants viewed these mental health improvements as necessary precursors to job searching or sustaining employment.
The scheme targets a younger demographic, with 31 percent of participants aged 16 to 24, compared to 12 percent of the local population in eligible locations. The Learning and Work Institute operates the pilot schemes. Stephen Evans, chief executive of the institute, said, "With over a million young people now estimated to not be in education, employment or training, it’s time to move from analysis to action. We welcome findings that the hyperlocal approach of JobsPlus offers that chance of action: proactively finding and supporting young people in their local communities, and offering wrap-around support that understands them as people."
Minister for Employment Diana Johnson said, "Too many young people are currently not accessing the support that exists to help them, and that must change. That’s why we are backing innovative approaches like JobsPlus, which works directly with local communities to find and support young people." Johnson stated, "JobsPlus complements our youth guarantee by reaching those who have fallen furthest from the system." Caseworker Lyndsey Henry remarked, "Everything is done within the community so that clients don’t have to venture out as much – sometimes it’s about building their confidence."