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Support for those out of work
01/04/2009
Those newly out of work will now be able to access training after three rather than six months.
From today, Scotland's national training programme for unemployed adults 'Training for Work' is being made available to people at 13 weeks unemployed instead of the previous 26 weeks unemployed. Early entry for specific groups of vulnerable customers will continue. These include lone parents, disabled people, and redundant workers.
Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning Fiona Hyslop said that more training provision than ever before is being made available for unemployed people in Scotland.
She said that the Scottish Government had also strengthened its response to the recession with the publication today of the report from the PACE 'Partnership Action for Continuing Employment' Summit held on February 9, 2009.
The Summit brought local and national partners together to ensure that PACE will effectively meet the complex needs of companies of all sizes and individuals during the current recession. PACE ensures that local public sector agencies respond to potential and proposed redundancies as quickly and effectively as possible.
The key outcome from the Summit is that the Scottish Government will establish a PACE Partnership which will be a high level strategic group comprising all agencies with an interest in PACE. The remit of the PACE Partnership will be to look at ways of making the service more flexible and effective.
Ms Hyslop said:
"We are making things easier for newly unemployed people by cutting the time they have to wait to access training for six months to three months. We are also extending PACE support for businesses of all sizes not just those over 20. Supporting individuals and businesses facing hardship as a result of the current economic climate is a vital component of the Scottish Government's six point Economic Recovery Plan.
"More individuals than ever before will be able to benefit from Government support in training to find employment.
"This Government fully recognises the pressures on people and fully understands the importance of ensuring people receive the support they need to get into work or back into work and contribute to Scotland's future economic success.
"During these difficult economic times we are determined to use every means available to us to ensure that individuals, businesses and organisations receive the help they need in dealing with these pressures. That is why the changes to the Training for Work programme that I have announced today are so important. People can now access support over three months earlier than before which will be of great help to those needing some extra training in order to get into employment.
"I am also pleased to be publishing the PACE Summit report today. The work that the PACE teams do are even more crucial in this current economic climate and the new PACE Partnership will be looking at ways to improve this service for individuals and businesses of all sizes.
"The action we have taken demonstrates that through our economic plan and all opportunities available to us the Scottish Government will do all we can to ensure Scotland's future economic recovery and growth."
Early entry to 'Training for Work' for specific groups has always been available, and this will continue, meaning that certain disadvantaged groups will not have to wait until they have been unemployed for 13 weeks, but can access the programme as soon as they become unemployed.
Early entry to TfW is available for disabled people, lone parents, SIMD postcode residents, refugees, ex-offenders, redundant workers, customers of Provider Led Pathways to Work (PLPTW) and customers requiring LEP PET ( Local Employment Partnership Pre Employment Training).
Through the PACE Partnership, all partners will be able to influence directly the operation of PACE and consider actions for enhancing PACE.
Key areas for consideration by the PACE Partnership will include:
- Promoting and communicating PACE services
- Improving the organisation of PACE at a local and regional level
- Developing those involved in providing PACE support so that they are aware of the full range of support available
- Developing the capacity of PACE to support early Intervention
- Improving and sharing intelligence amongst key partners
There are 21 local PACE teams in Scotland - 12 in Central and Lowland Scotland and 9 in the Highlands and Islands area. They involve local and national agencies, including Skills Development Scotland, Jobcentre Plus and Local Authorities. Other agencies, called upon as required, include: HM Revenue and Customs; the STUC and its affiliated Trade Unions; Citizens Advice Bureaux; local training providers; and Scotland's Colleges and Universities.
Skills Development Scotland co-ordinates the national and local level response teams to provide tailored help and support to individuals facing redundancy and identify training activities where appropriate.
This support is tailored to meet individual needs and may include: Jobcentre Plus services; one-to-one counselling; comprehensive information packs; access to high-quality training; seminars on skills such as CV-writing and starting up a business; and access to IT facilities.
A national helpline, revamped website and improved information resources were launched in February to make PACE services more accessible to individuals and employers through increased marketing and promotion. This helpline and improved website will open services to more individuals and employers in rural as well as urban areas. The Helpline Number is 0808 100 1855.