Skills, employability and the 2010 economy

Giving people the skills they need for work has always been at the heart of our service. Many of our learners are referred to us by Jobcentre Plus, with a large proportion of the 2.69 million learndirect learners to-date having come to us seeking workplace skills with an end goal of finding employment.

With jobless rates at their highest since learndirect launched ten years ago, our role in improving employability is more vital than ever before.

Here are some of the ways learndirect is contributing to the drive to get the unemployed back into jobs.

Response to Redundancy service
learndirect is continuing to help those made redundant or at risk of redundancy in three regions – the North West, East Midlands and West Midlands – after securing Response to Redundancy funding in 2009.

learndirect research is showing that while 41 per cent of people feel insecure about their job or chances of getting one, many don’t know how to get help to improve their prospects.

A marketing and public relations campaign early in 2010 will target some of the areas most affected by the recession by encouraging people out of work or facing redundancy to prepare for future employment by gaining new skills and refreshing old ones.

There is no restriction on the type or level of learning provision which means learndirect can guide those eligible for funding into skills training that will best serve them in gaining sustainable jobs.

A range of skills interventions tailored to the needs of the individual may be provided, though not all will be needed in each case:

• Training Needs Analysis
• Skills for Life diagnostics (including ICT) and delivery of appropriate training
• Assessment of generic employability skills needs and the delivery of training to improve job search, job application and in-work skills
• Embedded IAG (Advice Information and Guidance) and learner support
• Training to update skills needed for a specific employment sector
• Pre-employment training to provide skills to enter a different occupation or sector
• Regular progress reviews
• Exit interviews and customer tracking

The service also offers support to employers making redundancies.

PPDG partnership gets FND customers job-ready
A new partnership pilot between learndirect and PPDG (Pertemps People Development Group) is supporting FND (Flexible New Deal) customers back into work, through 20 centres in Herefordshire, Shropshire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire and Staffordshire.

Customers who have been unemployed for at least 12 months and referred to PPDG by Jobcentre Plus will receive help from a PPDG Careers Coach to gain the knowledge, skills and motivation they need to get a job.

Customers with Skills for Life needs will be offered the relevant supported training with learndirect. Others will be offered online training from a menu of 80 learndirect courses, chosen by PPDG to help move learners closer to the labour market. Courses covering job search, interview skills, money management, introductory IT and help prepare FND customers for employment.

Learners receive online and telephone tutor support from learndirect and receive statements of completion along the way. Courses can be accessed in either PPDG centres or customers’ homes. learndirect reports regularly to PPDG managers and Careers Coaches about the progress of their customers. Delivered online and paid for by PPDG on a course-by-course basis, the training is cost effective and flexible.

PPDG MD Gareth Edwards said the project was a key part of PPDG 's drive to improve their customers’ prospects. " The efficiency and online nature of learndirect's provision is highly effective in helping our customers get job-ready. It helps our customers improve their skills and gain qualifications in what is currently a depressed jobs market, so that they are best placed to exploit the job opportunities that do arrive as the market improves.”

“Some of our customers may already be technically job-ready but the jobs they’ve had previously may not be in plentiful supply any longer. As such they may update their qualifications in a chosen field or change direction completely; and learndirect plays a highly effective part in this process."

These pilot activities will continue to July 2010. With positive initial feedback from customers so far, formal evaluation will take place in Spring and Summer.

“I rated the Effective Communication section ten out of ten for improving how I communicate effectively with others. The resulting consequence was a 100 per cent increase in employers requesting that I attend interviews.” Jonathan Collins, learndirect learner and PPDG FND customer.

Monster partnership
We have linked up with jobs website Monster.co.uk to offer a range of services for visitors to the learndirect website. This partnership includes a new “getting a job” area on the site with a nationwide job search to help learners identify employment opportunities. We’re also giving visitors CV and application form templates with cover letter tips, a virtual job interview, a salary calculator and general confidence boosting tips.

learndirect Marketing Manager Jenny Mayes said: “We’re really pleased with the relationship with Monster.co.uk as it should help our learners and visitors to the site with the type of information and support we know they need – we want to help them in as many ways as possible to help get them back to work and this is a great way to do it.”

Visitors to www.monster.co.uk will be able to access information about learndirect and how gaining qualifications and topping up skills can help improve job prospects. They will also be able to try our Plan B tool which helps people identify the next steps they can take in handling the threat of redundancy.