Jobs 22 – a new joint venture created by social business Catch22 and Australian provider of human service and skills, Angus Knight – has been awarded a major contract as part of the Department for Work and Pensions’ Restart Programme.
The Restart Programme as a whole will provide intensive and tailored support to over 1 million unemployed people and help them find work in England and Wales. Jobs 22 will be providing employability support for job seekers in East Central England – covering the East Midlands, Lincolnshire, Bedfordshire, Luton and Stoke and Staffordshire
The Jobs 22 contract runs for 4.5 years from July 2021, with the aim of securing jobs for around 40,000 people and is worth more than £200m.
Chris Wright, Chief Executive of Catch22 said:
“Unemployment levels remain high and there is a desperate need to work with individuals and with national and local businesses to open up meaningful job opportunities. This is even more vital as the economy reopens, and in some cases refocus. Jobs 22’s approach is on the individual; supporting those facing barriers to work in the broadest sense to ensure that they have the confidence and skills required to enter meaningful, sustainable work – not just short-term placements.”
All candidates coming to Jobs 22 will:
- be allocated a designated Jobs 22 Employment Coach,
- be given immediate access to the Jobs 22 Employment Centre App – where they can see real-time vacancies, match their skills to local jobs and access the over 1,500 learning modules,
- have regular virtual and face-to-face meetings with their Employment Coach,
- create an action plan with their Coach that is reviewed regularly,
- have access to a wealth of local support around health, personal and development needs, and
- receive in-work support once they’ve secured a job.
Duncan Angus, Founder of Angus Knight Group said:
“Jobs22, although a new entrant to the market, will be there to assist and support people quickly re-enter the work force during this crisis. Jobs22 is different as it brings together the strengths of both the commercial and not-for-profit sectors to get Britain working again. We are very proud of this opportunity to infuse meaning and purpose into over 40,000 people’s lives by assisting them into long-term work with out innovative and customer centric approach.”
Minister for Employment, Mims Davies MP said:
“Our Plan for Jobs is already delivering fresh hope and new opportunity across the country after the impact of the pandemic on our Labour market. The new Restart programme will give over a million jobseekers the crucial tailored support they need to get back into employment as we push to build back better.”