Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - Wolverhampton South West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to increase the number of employment and training opportunities available to (a) young people and (b) disabled people.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Through Jobcentre Plus, DWP is helping young people to find the right support, education or training that will ultimately lead to sustained employment opportunities and career progression. The Plan for Jobs provides a comprehensive package of support for young people, including the Youth Offer and Kickstart.
The Kickstart scheme is dedicated to helping 16 to 24-year olds at risk of long-term unemployment develop their skills and experience through fully funded six-month jobs.
We are extending the DWP Youth Offer to 2025 and have expanded eligibility to include 16 and 17-year olds, in addition to 18 to 24-year olds, who are claiming Universal Credit and in the Intensive Work Search group. As part of this, Youth Hubs offer a range of dedicated local services, including mental health support, alongside skills, training, and employment provision. Youth Employability Coaches work closely alongside Disability Employment Advisors who specialise in helping claimants who have a disability or health condition to move into the labour market.
We have increased the number of work coaches providing individually tailored support which will help the newly unemployed, enable us to continue supporting those with complex needs, and to work with partners to ensure they get the help they need.
A range of DWP initiatives are supporting disabled people and people with health conditions to live independent lives and start, stay and succeed in employment.
The UK Government will provide £1.3bn over the Spending Review 2021 period to provide support for disabled people and people with health conditions. We will extend the Work and Health Programme, expand the Intensive Personalised Employment Support programme, and expand employment support in NHS Improving Access to Psychological Therapy services across England.
Through the Disability Confident scheme, DWP is engaging with employers and helping to promote the skills, talents and abilities of people with disabilities and health conditions. Through the scheme, DWP is providing advice and support to help employers feel more confident about employing disabled people, by signposting them to appropriate advice guidance and support.
Core skills are fundamental in securing, retaining and progressing in work. This Government has invested in apprenticeships, traineeships, vocational and basic skills training, alongside careers advice and Sector-based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs). This all forms part of the Lifetime Skills Guarantee. DWP actively seeks to provide claimants with upskilling opportunities, and our delivery approach is aligned to wider Government support for priority areas as part of the economic recovery – ensuring those looking for work, including young people and disabled people, are well positioned to gain employment in these sectors.
Asked by: Kieran Mullan (Conservative - Crewe and Nantwich)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what support her Department provides to young jobseekers.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Plan for Jobs provides a comprehensive package of support for young people, including the Youth Offer and Kickstart.
The Kickstart scheme is dedicated to helping 16 to 24-year olds at risk of long-term unemployment develop their skills and experience through fully funded six-month jobs. As of January, over 130,000 Kickstart jobs have been started by young people.
We are extending the DWP Youth Offer to 2025 and have expanded eligibility to include 16 and 17-year olds, in addition to 18 to 24-year olds, who are claiming Universal Credit and searching for work. The Youth Offer currently provides intensive work search support through the Youth Employment Programme, specialised Youth Employment Coaches for young people with additional barriers to work, and over 160 Youth Hubs across England, Scotland and Wales.
DWP is delivering a comprehensive package of support for young people in collaboration with the Department for Education and National Careers Service in England, the devolved administrations, and other partners.
Asked by: Kieran Mullan (Conservative - Crewe and Nantwich)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking help people who lost their jobs during the covid-19 outbreak back into work.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department for Work and Pensions is committed to supporting everyone who has been affected by the unprecedented impact of COVID-19. We want everyone who is able to work to find a job, progress in work and thrive in the labour market.
Throughout the pandemic the UK Government has provided over £400 billion to support the economy, including funding for the Plan for Jobs. The Kickstart scheme to date has provided over 130,000 young people with Kickstart jobs, with many of these securing permanent employment. Alongside this, the Restart Scheme offers a fresh start to those who have been unemployed for over 9 months. The scheme breaks down employment barriers that could potentially prevent jobseekers from finding work.
Way to Work is a new concerted national drive to help half a million people currently out of work into jobs by the end of June 2022, supporting them to take their next step to building a more secure and prosperous future. While we have more people on company payrolls than before the pandemic, latest figures show there are around 1.2 million vacancies across the economy, including many in key sectors.
Asked by: Kieran Mullan (Conservative - Crewe and Nantwich)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Plan For Jobs in supporting people into work.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Throughout the pandemic the UK Government has provided historic levels of support to the economy – a total of over £400 billion. This includes key DWP Plan for Jobs programmes such as Restart and Kickstart alongside other measures to boost work searches, skills and apprenticeships. In addition, the Government supported people to remain in work through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (furlough) and the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme.
Plan for Jobs has:
DWP is monitoring and evaluating the Kickstart scheme throughout and after its implementation and will continue to evaluate the longer-term outcomes for Kickstart participants after they have completed their six-month jobs. Our Kickstart evaluation includes large scale surveys to capture the views and experiences of Kickstart participants and of employers and gateway organisations. The evaluation is considering how experiences and outcomes from the scheme vary and examine how participants’ and employers’ characteristics, local context and local approaches to delivery affect experiences. Qualitative case-studies will provide a detailed understanding of how different aspects of the scheme interact and we will draw on available data and insights. We will publish the findings of the evaluation once complete.
A comprehensive, multi-strand evaluation will be undertaken to provide a robust and timely analysis of Restart delivery and impact. It will be split into four strands: targeted qualitative research during the implementation phase; a longitudinal cohort survey and qualitative research; provider research, including locally-focused case studies and finally an impact assessment including cost-benefit analysis the evaluation will assess overall programme impact and participant outcomes, as well as providing evidence on wider participant experience.
An evaluation of how DWP’s plan for jobs policies worked together is being undertaken. This will include case studies of different areas and their delivery of plan for jobs policies, and a tracking survey of a sample of plan for jobs participants and non-participants. This research will run through 2022 into 2023.
DWP have also recently launched 'Way to Work’, a concerted drive across the UK to help half a million people currently out of work into jobs in the next five months. We will be bringing employers into jobcentres and matching them up with claimants. This is good news for employers who need to fill vacancies and for our claimants.
Asked by: Kieran Mullan (Conservative - Crewe and Nantwich)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment he has made of the progress of the Kickstart Scheme.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
As of the 31st January 2022, over 130,000 Kickstart jobs have been started by young people and over 235,000 jobs have been made available for young people to apply to through the scheme.
The Department for Work and Pensions will be monitoring and evaluating the Kickstart scheme throughout and after its implementation and will continue to evaluate the longer-term outcomes for Kickstart participants after they have completed their six-month jobs.
Jobs made available and starts quoted here include some unfunded Kickstart jobs.
Although care is taken when processing and analysing Kickstart applications, referrals and starts, the data collected might be subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale recording system, which has been developed quickly.
The management information presented here has not been subjected to the usual standard of quality assurance associated with official statistics but is provided in the interests of transparency. Work is ongoing to improve the quality of information available for the programme.
Asked by: Richard Graham (Conservative - Gloucester)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what progress she has made on the conversion of Kickstart jobs into full-time equivalent roles and apprenticeships.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
We are delighted that over 130,000 Kickstart jobs have been started by young people and around 235,000 roles have been made available for young people to apply to through the scheme.
Many of these Kickstart jobs will lead on to further employment, training, or apprenticeships.
Jobcentre Plus Work Coaches promote apprenticeship opportunities to claimants in their regular interventions with customers and actively participate in “National Apprenticeship Week”
The Department for Work and Pensions will be monitoring and evaluating the Kickstart scheme throughout and after its implementation, and will continue to evaluate the longer-term outcomes for Kickstart participants after they have completed their six-month jobs
Jobs made available and starts quoted here include some unfunded Kickstart jobs.
Although care is taken when processing and analysing Kickstart applications, referrals and starts, the data collected might be subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale recording system, which has been developed quickly.
The management information presented here has not been subjected to the usual standard of quality assurance associated with official statistics but is provided in the interests of transparency. Work is ongoing to improve the quality of information available for the programme.
Asked by: Ben Spencer (Conservative - Runnymede and Weybridge)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Kickstart Scheme placements have been (a) approved, (b) advertised and (c) started by young people by (i) nation, (ii) region and (iii) sector as of 31 January 2022.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
As of the 31st January 2022, over 130,000 Kickstart jobs have been started by young people and over 235,000 jobs have been made available for young people to apply to through the scheme. Over 305,000 jobs have been approved for funding.
Below are tables listing the number of Kickstart jobs which have been made available and started by young people to date by geographical area of Great Britain and work sector. The figures used are correct as of the 31st January and these figures have been rounded according to departmental standards.
Jobs made available and starts quoted here include some unfunded Kickstart jobs. Over time, some previously approved jobs have been removed where the employer chose not to follow up the application. Included in the Great Britain total are a small number of jobs made available (less than 100 in total) that have an unrecorded job location. Data on approved jobs is taken from a snapshot of the Kickstart system at a point in time. This figure can be affected by retrospective changes resulting from previously approved grant applications being rescinded.
The number of approved jobs is defined as the number of jobs associated with approved applications recorded on the Kickstart application system on the date above. This total excludes approved jobs that have been withdrawn from the Kickstart Scheme by agreement with employers and gateways.
Although care is taken when processing and analysing Kickstart applications, referrals and starts, the data collected might be subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale recording system, which has been developed quickly.
The management information presented here has not been subjected to the usual standard of quality assurance associated with official statistics but is provided in the interests of transparency. Work is ongoing to improve the quality of information available for the programme.
Table 1: Number of Kickstart total available jobs and job starts to 31st January 2022, Great Britain, by nation and region
| Total jobs made available | Total jobs started |
Total, Great Britain | 235,000 | 130,000 |
|
|
|
England | 204,000 | 113,000 |
East Midlands | 14,000 | 8,000 |
East of England | 18,000 | 9,000 |
London | 51,000 | 28,000 |
North East | 11,000 | 6,000 |
North West | 30,000 | 17,000 |
South East | 26,000 | 14,000 |
South West | 14,000 | 8,000 |
West Midlands | 21,000 | 12,000 |
Yorkshire and The Humber | 19,000 | 11,000 |
Scotland | 19,000 | 11,000 |
Wales | 12,000 | 6,000 |
Table 2: Number of Kickstart total available jobs and job starts to 31st January 2022, Great Britain, by Sector
Sector | Total jobs made available | Total jobs started |
Administration | 57,350 | 32,660 |
Animal Care | 1,610 | 1,060 |
Beauty & Wellbeing | 1,720 | 1,080 |
Business & Finance | 8,500 | 4,820 |
Computing Technology & Digital | 15,840 | 10,490 |
Construction & Trades | 7,230 | 4,200 |
Creative & Media | 20,990 | 13,110 |
Delivery & Storage | 6,380 | 3,710 |
Emergency & Uniform Services | 520 | 290 |
Engineering & Maintenance | 7,080 | 3,980 |
Environment & Land | 4,620 | 2,710 |
Government Services | 1,000 | 460 |
Healthcare | 6,140 | 2,770 |
Home Services | 1,560 | 730 |
Hospitality & Food | 26,380 | 11,210 |
Law & Legal | 650 | 410 |
Managerial | 960 | 570 |
Manufacturing | 6,430 | 3,600 |
Retail & Sales | 34,970 | 20,450 |
Science & Research | 990 | 650 |
Social Care | 4,740 | 2,140 |
Sports & Leisure | 5,920 | 3,200 |
Teaching & Education | 11,000 | 5,410 |
Transport | 900 | 330 |
Travel & Tourism | 1,110 | 390 |
Asked by: Jonathan Ashworth (Labour (Co-op) - Leicester South)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many vacancies had been submitted to Kickstart by employers as of 31 January 2022.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
As of the 31st January 2022, over 235,000 jobs have been made available for young people to apply to through the scheme. We are still processing the final vacancies submitted by prospective employers by the 31st January deadline.
Although care is taken when processing and analysing Kickstart applications, referrals and starts, the data collected might be subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale recording system, which has been developed quickly.
The management information presented here has not been subjected to the usual standard of quality assurance associated with official statistics but is provided in the interests of transparency. Work is ongoing to improve the quality of information available for the programme.
Asked by: Julian Knight (Independent - Solihull)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department plans to take to support young people aged 16 to 24 in (a) Solihull and (b) England to find employment.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Plan for Jobs provides a comprehensive package of support for young people, including the Youth Offer and Kickstart.
The Kickstart scheme is dedicated to helping 16 to 24-year olds at risk of long-term unemployment develop their skills and experience through fully funded six-month jobs. As of the 31st January 2022, over 130,000 Kickstart jobs have been started by young people.
The DWP Youth Offer provides intensive work search support to young people aged 16 to 24 on Universal Credit and in the Intensive Work Search group. It includes the Youth Employment Programme, Youth Employability Coaches for young people with complex needs and additional barriers, and over 150 Youth Hubs across England, Scotland, and Wales.
In Solihull, Support for Schools advisers are engaging with secondary schools across Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council (SMBC), including supporting a recent careers fair at Solihull College. Solihull Youth Hub in Chelmsley Wood is co-located and co-delivered with SMBC to support young people into employment, education, and training opportunities. We are also working with Solihull Children in Care team to ensure that all 16 to 24-year olds leaving care are included in the Universal Credit advance claim process and receive Work Coach support.
We continue to work with partners to deliver job fairs and Kickstart employer events as part of our commitment to supporting young people into sustainable employment.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people who were part of the Kickstart scheme have (a) remained employed since the start of that scheme and (b) have lost their job at (i) any time or (ii) at the end of that scheme, to date.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
As of 10th January 2022, over 122,000 Kickstart jobs have been started by young people.
The Department for Work and Pensions will be monitoring and evaluating the Kickstart scheme throughout its implementation and will continue to evaluate the longer-term outcomes for Kickstart participants after they have completed their six-month job placements. This will include an estimate of the young people that remained employed following the conclusion of the six-month Kickstart job (either with their Kickstart employer or moving into a job with a different employer), as well as the number of young people no longer in employment upon leaving a Kickstart role. We will publish the findings of the evaluation once complete.
Although care is taken when processing and analysing Kickstart applications, referrals and starts, the data collected might be subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale recording system, which has been developed quickly. The management information presented here has not been subjected to the usual standard of quality assurance associated with official statistics but is provided in the interests of transparency. Work is ongoing to improve the quality of information available for the programme.