HR Industry News

Over 100 employers sign up to landmark employment initiative

— 11 October 2007 —

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Peter Hain has revealed that over 100 employers have signed up to the groundbreaking 'LEP' to help 250,000 people off benefits and into work. 118 employers from a range of sectors – such as banking and finance, hospitality, retail and local councils – have now committed to the DWP’s Local Employment Partnership. The ‘jobs pledge’ will contribute to the long-term goal of achieving full employment and eradicating child poverty.

Hain said the DWP currently has over 100 employer commitments to LEPs across the UK and are currently in discussions with more employers who are interested in joining the intiative. The LEP involves major employers in both the public and private sectors giving a commitment to offer guaranteed job interviews for people who have been on benefit and who are ready and prepared to work.

We will ensure that people who are disadvantaged in the job market get the right type of training to get them to the point of being ‘job ready’ getting that greater integration between skills and employment. And employers who sign up for LEPs will provide mentoring schemes to help people make the transition into a working environment. Peter Hain, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

Among the latest employers to sign up to the LEP are Travelodge and vocational learning provider Carter & Carter.

We actively employ clients from our employability programmes and have many in sustained jobs – we wouldn’t ask employers to take on our clients if we didn’t do so too. We are delighted to support the DWP and Jobcentre Plus in signing the jobs pledge which we consider to be a key initiative. Helen Richardson, Managing Director of the employability sector of Carter & Carter

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