Employing Local Parents4in10 Seminar

Andrew Bazeley

Senior Policy Officer

Newham Council

Slide 2

Newham Context

Population has grown from 308,000 in 2011 to 327,000 in latest estimates (ONS)

40 per cent of our population aged 24 or under

Most diverse place in the country

Also one of the poorest – second most deprived borough in the country (IMD 2010)

41% of households in the borough are living in poverty – in and out of work (NHPS)

Slide 3

EmploymentHistorically low employment after industrial decline

Opportunities following the Olympics – and with regeneration

Numerous challenges and barriers to work

Lower skills than London – but levels are increasing (ONS)

Strong competition for jobs

Inactivity decreasing and employment rising (ONS)

Parental Employment

• Gender employment gap is higher than London at 17% points, but decreasing (ONS).

• Childcare is a key challenge for residents, especially women, Asian residents, and 25-44 year olds (NHPS)

• Half of residents looking after home and family have no formal qualifications compared with 36% overall.

• Introduced in 2007 in response to opportunities and experience elsewhere

• Employer-focussed • Voluntary – feel of a high-street

recruitment agency

• Targeted support based on the jobs that are available

Impact of Workplace

• Over 25,000 residents into work since 2007

• Over half are long-term unemployed

• Job sustainability is high, with 80% still in work after 6 months – outperforming DWP schemes

• Strong support from employers – 92% plan to use Workplace again

Workplace and Parents

• On average, 1,500 parents into work each year through the service – impact may be greater due to underreporting

• Even gender split

• High proportions of parents who register into work

What Works with Parents?

• Integration with Children’s Centres – outreach and delivery

• Targeted around vacancies that work with childcare

• ‘Take 3 days’ training – focussed on soft outcomes

• Integration with benefits applications and better off in work calculations

Welfare Reforms

• £3.5m annual income lost to residents from the Cap and the Bedroom Tax.

• Many capped households some distance from the Labour Market, with ESOL issues and caring responsibilities

• Co-located with JCP, and worked in partnership around the introduction of the cap

Key Lessons

• Importance of an employer-led, integrated welfare-to-work system

• Training that is linked to jobs available

• And targeting vacancies that fit around caring responsibilities

Thank you