Member Article

Stepladder into work

A North East collaboration is set to provide a “ladder” of support to help get people back into work. The Regional Employability Framework (REF) will provide a single accessible network of support that meets the skills needs of both individuals and businesses. The Framework will create an employment ladder making it easier for people to access help and providing a clear path from initial engagement through to better support once they have started work. It is hoped that this will help to increase retention rates and ensure people in the region go on to get better quality and higher paid jobs.

The Framework will improve the joint planning between of all the key stakeholders, Jobcentre Plus, the Learning & Skills Council, One NorthEast, Employer Coalition, local authorities, voluntary and community organisations and employers. This will create a more efficient system, allowing individual agencies to focus on their strengths to meet the key objective of getting people back into work.

Pat Ritchie, Director of Strategy and Development at One NorthEast said: “Real progress has been made in the North East in recent years and if we are to meet the ambitious targets in ‘Leading the Way’ (the Regional Economic Strategy) we need to keep on increasing our employment levels and the skills of the workforce. “The Regional Economic Framework aims to provide a clear and easily accessible route for individuals into work and will help us make the best use of the resources available to us for the benefits of the region.”

Diane Hedley, Jobcentre Plus Regional Director said: “The regional partners share a common objective of working together to help more people into work. The Regional Employability Framework will support this goal by optimising the use of all our resources. It will provide better support to people wanting to enter the labour market. This will build on the already strong partnership seeking to improve the region.”

For more information about the Regional Employability Framework please contact: Stuart Boyd, One NorthEast press office on 0191 229 6428 or by email stuart.boyd@onenortheast.co.uk.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .