Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to help reduce the unemployment rate in Essex.

Both Basildon and Grays Jobcentres serve the South Basildon and East Thurrock constituency. Both Jobcentres collaborate with employers and providers to resolve recruitment needs, focusing on overcoming common barriers. Solutions include tailored Sector Based Work Academy Programmes, organising recruitment events themed by sector and claimant group, and innovative Movement to Work placements. Both Jobcentres also deliver claimant information sessions, covering topics such as childcare costs, various labour market sectors, 50PLUS Mid-Life MOTs, CV and job application support, and interview preparation.

Basildon Jobcentre are delivering a youth customer forum to encourage their younger customers into work. This is designed to be a provider-led programme to support customers with mental health challenges, as this was their main barrier to employment.

Basildon Jobcentre, Basildon Council, and Essex County Council also recently collaborated to deliver Spectrum, a neurodivergent wellbeing and recruitment event. Among other partners, the local NHS Trust attended the event and is now planning to replicate and deliver similar events across other boroughs. DWP and Thurrock Council will deliver a variation of this event in early 2025 for Grays’ neurodivergent constituents.

Basildon Jobcentre and Basildon Council co-delivered activities for their recent Apprenticeship Day and following its success, both are planning to co-deliver a season recruitment event. Pathways, Basildon Council’s community employment support hub, are committed to delivering monthly recruitment and training events.