sencia Secures £1.2m Skills for Jobs Contract

March 4, 2009

Almost 1,000 people across London are receiving help finding sustainable jobs as part of a new £1.2m contract secured by employability business sencia – part of the Sheffield-based Employability and Skills Group (esg).

 

sencia is working in east, north and north east London, as well as the City of London, to deliver help via the Government’s Skills for Jobs programme, funded by the Learning and Skills Council.  This aims to reduce unemployment by engaging more effectively with people not in work and moving them into sustainable jobs through support, learning and achievement of qualifications.

 

Adrian Holmes, esg Group Chief Executive Officer, says: “These are challenging economic times and Skills for Jobs is about helping people get back to work and equipping them with the skills and qualifications to stay in work. 

 

“sencia is working in local communities in different parts of the capital, each with its own unique challenges, to direct people into jobs that have long-term opportunities.  We are working with specific disadvantaged groups, providing language skills and basic literacy and numeracy, as well as helping those with mental health difficulties, learning difficulties and disabilities.”

 

There are three separate contracts focusing Higher Level English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), Local Employment Partnerships (LEPs) and Learners with Learning Difficulties or Disabilities (LLDD).  sencia is responsible for putting together pathways to employment appropriate to the needs of these clients and the employers for all three groups.

 

ESOL clients will receive tailored support to increase the number achieving an appropriate language qualification, or developing language skills to enable them to move into high skilled employment, and increase sustained employment rates. 

 

LEPs are a deal between Government and business to tackle the increasing recruitment and skills challenges of the local labour market and economy.  Employers work in partnership with Government to open up employment and training opportunities to disadvantaged jobseekers. 

 

LLDD will increase job opportunities for those with mental health difficulties, learning difficulties, and disabilities. 

 

sencia’s contract runs until 31 July 2010.