Today the Minister for Employment, Mark Hoban MP, has published the first official performance data for the ‘Work Programme’ - the Government’s flagship scheme for helping long-term unemployed people back into the workplace that began in June 2011.

G4S Welfare to Work delivers the Work Programme in three areas of the country and competes with other providers in these areas. From June 2011 to October 2012, G4S has supported 15,226 long-term unemployed people into employment on the Work Programme.

The Government’s performance measure published today is ‘Job Outcomes’. This refers to the number of long-term unemployed people who have been supported into employment and subsequently remained in employment for a set period of time (typically six months).

The performance of G4S in each of our three Work Programme areas is as follows:

 Greater Manchester, Cheshire and Warrington (G4S and two other providers):
Number of people helped into employment (to end of October 2012) – 5,800
Number of Job Outcomes (to end of July 2012) – 910 

 Kent, Surrey and Sussex(G4S and one other provider):
Number of people helped into employment (to end of October 2012) – 6,300
Number of Job Outcomes (to end of July 2012) – 940

 North East Yorkshire and The Humber (G4S and one other provider):
Number of people helped into employment (to end of October 2012) – 3,200
Number of Job Outcomes (to end of July 2012) – 470

Sean Williams, Managing Director of G4S Welfare To Work, said:

“Although the Work Programme has only been running for just over a year, it is already transforming the lives of tens of thousands of disadvantaged people around the country. It is also supporting long-term unemployed people into employment more cost effectively than other previous comparable programme.

“Our performance so far in helping jobseekers into work is encouraging but there is still a lot more work to be done. The economic conditions remain challenging and it has taken some time to set up the Work Programme across the country. Even so, our performance is improving all the time and we remain fully committed to delivering the best possible services to all the disadvantaged people that we support through the Work Programme.”

G4S delivers the Work Programme for three regions in the UK, using a network of delivery partners, from the voluntary, professional and public sector.

Penny Shimmin, Chief Executive Officer at NCDA – a top-performing voluntary sector organisation that delivers the Work Programme in partnership with G4S, said:

“NCDA’s experience of being a sub-contractor and delivering end to end services on the Work Programme with G4S has been extremely positive. Support from G4S has always been readily available, they communicate well and are very responsive to any issues we raise.

"As a third sector organisation which delivers a broad range of services to communities in need, NCDA are in a good position to respond to the wide ranging aspirations of our customers. NCDA’s coordinated, personalised approach to delivery has proved very successful – we are consistently one of the best performing suppliers in G4S’ supply chain nationally, and not at the expense of those furthest from the labour market.” 


Case studies 

Chelsea, 20, started drinking from the age of 12 and developed a severe alcohol addiction. She was vulnerable and fell into the downward spiral of taking drugs and eventually using heroin. She committed crimes to fund her habit. When she was 18 her heavy-drinking habit almost killed her. She said: "I had no stomach lining and [doctors] said if I'd carried on I would've ended up dying." She was then referred to City Works – one of G4S’s delivery partners on the Work Programme. With the help of ‘Fresh Start’ she began to overcome her alcohol and drug problems with a combination of counselling and rehabilitation. Chelsea also needed more focus on employment issues so her Advisor supported her in creating a new CV, producing speculative letters and completing applications. The intense support instilled her with the confidence and self-belief that she had the ability to work.
A job at the British Heart Foundation came up, which Chelsea applied for. She made an instant impression and they offered her the position. Within two weeks of starting her new job she was asked to do more hours as she was doing so well acting as Assistant Manager running a busy charity shop. She is now financially more secure, more confident and recognises her skills. The stability and routine of work has meant she has stopped drinking alcohol completely and she is a much happier person. She also delivers talks to young people in the local area about the dangers of drinking alcohol to excess.

Chelsea said: “Feels real good helping my community and working hard. Having people who understand you like Andy my advisor, really helps to overcome what life throws at you.”

Sue, 44, suffered from depression and panic attacks and had been unemployed for 26 years. She did not do anything alone previously apart from attending doctors’ appointments. She was then referred to PPDG – one of G4S’s delivery partners on the Work Programme. Her advisor devised a plan for her to move forwards including keeping a diary of achievements to boost her self-esteem. Her advisor noticed some significant gaps in her CV which they updated together. Sue completed an employability course and Learn Direct Literacy and Numeracy, levels 1 and 2, gaining over 80% in her numeracy course. PPDG then sourced a company to deliver an NVQ Level 1 in Adult Health and Social Care. Sue has also sat in on some employer talks with local Care companies. Her confidence and motivation skyrocketed and she began attending appointments alone and job searching without any support. She had new teeth fitted and a new haircut and ‘image’ to suit the ‘new’ person. Sue then completed an application form for a care company she had researched. They were so impressed with her application they guaranteed her an interview, at which she was successful. She finished her first two days of training with Prime Care and started full-time work within a couple of weeks, which was an incredible achievement.

Sue said: “I would not have been able to do this without the unwavering individual support and help of my advisor.”

Paul Daniels, 32, came onto the Work Programme having spent the previous six years in prison. This was after he had made, in his own words, a ‘stupid mistake’, resulting in him losing his own business and two houses. Paul was deeply concerned that his time in prison had made him an unattractive candidate for employers. But his determination to return to work and get his life back on track made an instant impression on his Advisor at Inspire 2 Independence (i2i) – one of G4S’s delivery partners on the Work Programme – who quickly identified a suitable role at Music Magpie. After undergoing rigorous preparation and training at i2i, Paul was successful at interview stage and started work as a Warehouse Operative at Music Magpie. He has made an impressive start and has already been promoted to a full time role. Paul is enjoying all the benefits of being back in work. He has a steady income and is now able to do all the things he wants to at the weekend, including going to the gym, playing football and spending time with his children. He hopes that his story can serve as an inspiration to others who are struggling to get back into work.

Paul said: “Thank you i2i. I am really made up. This is the start of a new life for me.”

Full details of the performance data released today can be found on the Department for Work and Pensions website.