European Social Fund in England
2007 - 2013
In2work
Partnership's recipe for success (In2Work)
An ESF funded project funded through Jobcentre Plus is getting disadvantaged people back to work.
The In2work Intermediate Labour Market (ILM) Project gives paid work placements, training and ongoing support to long-term unemployed and inactive people including lone parents and those on incapacity benefit. Each client accepted on the scheme undertakes a 26-week workplace training contract with Hertfordshire County Council, during which they are paid a weekly wage by the In2work-ILM Project. There they will gain a range of skills and experience in areas such as IT to improve their own long-term career prospects.
The project started in April 2004 and ends April 2006. To date 81 people have started the scheme and so far 12 of them have entered permanent jobs.
The partnership, which includes Hertfordshire County Council, Dacorum Council for Voluntary services and Hertfordshire Careers Service, is encouraging public and voluntary sector employers to support the scheme and offer placements. Employers benefit by gaining an extra team member free of charge.
One of the participating employers is Hertfordshire Partnership NHS Trust. It took on a client who had been on incapacity benefit for some time and lacked self-confidence. In the supportive environment the Trust provided she flourished and was encouraged to take up in-house training courses in IT and to build her knowledge of the organisation. A post then became available at the Trust, which she successfully applied for. She is now working for the Trust as a direct result of her ESF funded work experience and training. A spokesperson at the trust said, "This scheme is working so well that we are very keen to take on someone else."
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