DWP Bulletins (9)
Occasional & periodical promotional communications from the Department for Work & Pensions
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NATIONAL EMPLOYER & PARTNERSHIP TEAM Employer News January 2018 Welcome to the January 2018 edition of Employer News. The DWP National Employer and Partnership Team (NEPT) will be using this e-shot to communicate items of interest to Employers, Trade Associations and Partners. Your feedback is valuable! We hope you find "Employer News" useful and would welcome your feedback. Tell us about the article in today’s newsletter you found most helpful/relevant to your business? Please share your views through your DWP Account Manager or drop us a line at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
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Today’s Labour Market Statistics Headline News Number in employment reaches record high Official figures released today (24 January 2018) show that the employment rate is at a joint record high of 75.3%, with a record 32.2 million people in work. Published 24 January 2018 From: Department for Work and Pensions and The Rt Hon Esther McVey This is a rise of 415,000 compared to last year’s figures. The figures, released by the Office for National Statistics, also show that unemployment is at its lowest level since 1975. |
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Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Esther McVey, said: “We had a record-breaking 2017 for employment, and I’m delighted to see this trend continue as we enter the new year. The number of people in work is at an all-time high and the unemployment rate has not been this low for over 40 years. At this time of year, straight after Christmas, people might be feeling a squeeze on their finances. We’re determined to help people keep more of what they earn. That’s why we’ve increased the National Living Wage, introduced Universal Credit to offer greater flexibility and taken millions of people out of income tax altogether by raising the tax-free personal allowance. In 2017, at least 10 employment records were broken. The employment rate and the number of people in work, the number of women in work and black and minority ethnic employment all reached record highs during the year.” Today’s employment figures also show:
Separate figures also released today show there are 700,000 people claiming Universal Credit as the rollout of the new benefit continues, with 42% in employment. Read the Labour Market Statistics – January 2018 from the Office for National Statistics. |
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Customer Service Excellence: Have your say! The National Employer & Partnership Team (NEPT) are keen to continue to make improvements to the services we provide for our customers and the customer experience. Key to this is gathering and responding to your feedback. Thus we would be grateful if employer representatives could click on Survey Link Employers and trade bodies or partners click on Survey Link Partners or Trade Bodies to take part in a short survey. Comments received, will be analysed and the outcomes published. The information from the survey is used to make improvements to the services we provide. Survey closes on the 31 January 2018. |
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Autumn 2017 Budget Changes Details of the package of support for Universal Credit announced on 22 November 2017 and the Secretary of State’s statement can be found on GOV.UK. |
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SAFERjobs The UK has experienced a significant rise in the number of job scams over the past two years, according to SAFERjobs (Safe Advice for Employment and Recruitment). SAFERjobs now works with all of the UK’s top 10 job boards, and in partnership with DWP, BEIS, ‘Metropolitan Police, Trading Standards, City of London Police, the Home Office, and Action Fraud. There are plenty of genuine opportunities in the labour market right now , however it is important that people learn to recognise the tell-tale signs of a fake job advert. Safer Jobs are working hard to raise awareness and educating the public on the potential risks facing job seekers, and combatting the fraudsters directly. It is important that DWP raises awareness with all its stakeholders, particularly genuine employers that we partner with, to ensure that they are not scammed also. SAFERjobs investigates any situation reported by a job seeker about a potential scam, and will provide impartial advice on how to proceed to both employers and jobseekers. Please show your support for the Safer Jobs Free Campaign, for more information: https://www.safer-jobs.com/safer_employers.cfm |
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MENTAL HEALTH TOOLKIT There has been a lot written about how to tackle mental ill health and promote wellbeing in the workplace. This toolkit will simplify your approach. Business in the Community has partnered with Public Health England to produce a free, online toolkit to help every organisation support the mental health and wellbeing of its employees. It will help employers take positive actions to build a culture that champions good mental health and provides a greater understanding of how to help those who need more support. This toolkit will help employers pick out the most valuable resources, and help to develop an approach that works. For larger organisations, the toolkit is also a useful resource to share with businesses in their supply chain and across their network. Every organisation has an opportunity to support and develop a mentally healthy workforce and it doesn’t need to be complicated – this toolkit will help you understand and act, step by step. https://wellbeing.bitc.org.uk/sites/default/files/mental_health_toolkit_for_employers_-_small.pdf |
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The National Employer and Partnership Team would like to say thank you to all Employers, Trade Associations and Partners for the significant contribution you have made to the fall in unemployment, demonstrated in the figures. Edition 24/01/18 |
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NATIONAL EMPLOYER & PARTNERSHIP TEAM Employer News December 2017 Welcome to the December 2017 edition of Employer News.
The DWP National Employer and Partnership Team (NEPT) will be using this e-shot to communicate items of interest to Employers, Trade Associations and Partners.
Your feedback is valuable! We hope you find "Employer News" useful and would welcome your feedback. Tell us about the article in today’s newsletter you found most helpful/relevant to your business? Please share your views through your DWP Account Manager or drop us a line at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
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Today’s Labour Market Statistics HEADLINE NEWS
Unemployment remains at four-decade low
· The unemployment rate was 4.3%, down from 4.8% for a year earlier and the joint lowest since 1975. · There were 32.08 million people in work, 325,000 more than this time last year. · More than 660,000 people are now receiving Universal Credit, with 40% in employment.
Unemployment is at just 4.3%, the lowest level since 1975, according to official figures released today – every month in 2017 figures have shown a fall in the unemployment rate.
The figures, released by the Office for National Statistics, also show that employment remains at a near record high, with 32.08 million people in work. There are also a record number of vacancies (798,000) in the economy at any one time.
Separate figures also released yesterday show there are 660,000 people now receiving Universal Credit (UC), as the rollout of the new benefit continues. Research shows that with UC people are moving into work faster and staying in work longer than compared to the old system.
Minister for Employment, Damian Hinds said:
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“We’re ending the year on a strong note with figures showing the unemployment rate has fallen every month in 2017, and is now at the lowest it’s been in over 40 years.
“Employment is at a near-record high, and there are over 3 million more people in work now compared to 2010 – that’s more than the population of Greater Manchester. Universal Credit is helping people get into work quicker, and ensuring they get more money in their pockets for every hour they work.
“Universal Credit supports both the unemployed and the low paid, as people don’t have to end their benefit claim when they find a job. This is especially important at this time of year, when many people take on temporary seasonal work.”
Today’s employment figures also show:
· The number of people in employment has increased by over 3 million since 2010. · Youth unemployment has fallen by over 40% since 2010. · The proportion of young people who are unemployed and not in full time education remains below 5%. |
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Coming soon: NEPT Customer Satisfaction Survey As part of our on-going focus to provide excellent customer service, the National Employer and Partnership Team (NEPT) will launch a survey in the New Year, to gather insight from all our Employers, Trade Association and Partner relationships.
We value your opinion and are constantly looking for ways to improve how we work with our customers. Therefore keep a look out for the 2018 edition of the ‘NEPT Employer News’ where the survey will be featured for you to complete.
It is your feedback that will help us identify how we can improve our service to support you, in your recruitment plans.
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Putting Ability First - Your monthly newsletter from Remploy
Welcome to the first edition of ‘Putting ability first’, Remploy’s monthly newsletter for employers.
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The National Employer and Partnership Team would like to say thank you to all Employers, Trade Associations and Partners for the significant contribution you have made to the fall in unemployment, demonstrated in the figures. Edition 14.12.2017 |
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NATIONAL EMPLOYER & PARTNERSHIP TEAM Employer News November 2017 Welcome to the November 2017 edition of Employer News.
The DWP National Employer and Partnership Team (NEPT) will be using this e-shot to communicate items of interest to Employers, Trade Associations and Partners.
Your feedback is valuable! We hope you find "Employer News" useful and would welcome your feedback. Tell us about the article in today’s newsletter you found most helpful/relevant to your business? Please share your views through your DWP Account Manager or drop us a line at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
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Today’s Labour Market Statistics HEADLINE NEWS Unemployment remains at 40-year low · Unemployment is down 59,000 on the quarter and is the lowest rate since 1975 · Employment rate is at a near record of 75.0% with 32 million people in work Official figures show that unemployment has remained at 4.3%, the lowest rate since 1975. The figures, released by the Office for National Statistics, also show that employment remains at a near record high, with 32 million people in work. Increases in full-time and permanent work are behind the figures. In the last year the number of people on zero hours contracts has fallen by 20,000. Minister for Employment, Damian Hinds said: “The strength of the economy is driving an increase in full-time, permanent jobs and a near-record number of people are now in work thanks to the Government’s welfare reforms. “When unemployment fell to 5% early last year, many people thought it couldn’t get much lower, and yet it now stands at 4.3%. “Everyone should be given the opportunity to find work and enjoy the stability of a regular pay packet. We’ve cut income tax for 30 million people since 2010, meaning people keep more of their money each month." Today’s employment figures also show: The number of people in employment has increased by more than 3 million since 2010. · The UK has the 3rd highest employment rate in the G7. · The number of workers aged 50+ has almost reached 10 million - a record level. · Youth unemployment has fallen by over 40% since 2010. · There are a near record 780,000 vacancies in the economy at any one time. · The proportion of young people who are unemployed and not in full time education remains below 5%. Separate figures out today show there are 630,000 people on Universal Credit, with 40% in employment. |
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Apprenticeship Diversity Champions Network
The Apprenticeship Diversity Champions Network (ADCN,) launched earlier this year, brings together a group of employers committed to putting social mobility at the heart of what they do, and ensuring that people from all backgrounds can access and benefit from apprenticeships.
Members, who include the BBC and Rolls Royce, have this month welcomed changes to English and Maths requirements which will make it easier for many disabled people to access apprenticeships. Further information on these changes can be found here, and they came fully into force last month.
Government, supported by the ADCN, is undertaking a raft of additional measures to support disabled apprentices. This includes working with employers such as Kent County Council and the NHS as part of a Pacesetter project to deliver supported apprenticeships, and trial what works in making apprenticeships more accessible. In addition to this, DWP’s Disability Confident Scheme is being integrated into the Find an Apprenticeship site, and additional payments of £1000 are now available for providers and employers with apprentices aged 19-24 who have an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan or were previously in care. The new funding model maintains existing financial support to providers for apprentices with learning difficulties and / or disabilities of up to £150 per month.
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The National Employer and Partnership Team would like to say thank you to all Employers, Trade Associations and Partners for the significant contribution you have made to the fall in unemployment, demonstrated in the figures. Edition 15.11.2017 |
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NATIONAL EMPLOYER & PARTNERSHIP TEAM Employer News AUGUST 2017 Welcome to the August 2017 edition of Employer News.
The DWP National Employer and Partnership Team (NEPT) will be using this e-shot to communicate items of interest to Employers, Trade Associations and Partners.
Your feedback is valuable! We hope you find "Employer News" useful and would welcome your feedback. Tell us about the article in today’s newsletter you found most helpful/relevant to your business? Please share your views through your DWP Account Manager or drop us a line at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
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Today’s Labour Market Statistics HEADLINE NEWS OVER 3 MILLION MORE PEOPLE IN WORK SINCE 2010 Employment rate at record high 75.1% with a record 32.07 million people in work. Unemployment down 57,000 on the quarter and is at lowest rate since 1975. The number of people in employment has increased by 3 million since 2010, with over 75% of the increase being in full time work. Official figures released today show the unemployment rate has fallen to 4.4% – the lowest level since 1975. According to the Office for National Statistics, the number of people in work is at the highest level since records began in 1971. The record figures have been driven by increases in the number of people in secure work – over 75% of the increase in employment over the past seven years has been in full-time work. There are now 338,000 more people in work compared to this time last year. Minister for Employment, Damian Hinds said: “These statistics show that record levels of people are in work across the country and earning a wage, which is great news. “Over 3 million more people are in work now than in 2010, with seven in ten of these roles being in higher skilled work. “Over the past year the rise in employment has been overwhelmingly driven by permanent and full-time jobs, as employers continue to invest in Britain’s strong economy. “The task now is to build on this success through Jobcentre Plus and our employment programmes so that everybody can benefit from the opportunities being created.” Today’s figures also show: The employment rate is at a record high of 75.1%, with 32.07 million people now in work – an increase of 338,000 on the year. This year has been a strong one for employment growth with 247,000 more people now in work since January. There are a near record 768,000 vacancies in the economy at any one time. The female employment rate is at a record high of 70.5%, with over 15 million women in work. Youth unemployment is down by 394,000 since 2010. There are more British people in work than ever before and around nine in ten people in jobs are UK nationals. The UK employment rate is now the 4th highest in the European Union and 7.0 percentage points higher than the EU28 average. Separate figures out today show 1.3 million claims have been made to Universal Credit. Of the 570,000 people now claiming Universal Credit, 39% are in work. The Government recently announced up to £35 million of funding with Devolution Authorities across England for six new innovation employment pilots. These will help over 18,000 disadvantaged people into employment, and tackle long-term barriers to work and in-work progression. Details of the full article is available on GOV.UK |
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Movement to Work Movement to Work is an employer led initiative to support young people not in employment, education or training to move into training or jobs, through such initiatives as Work Experience, Pre-employment training. They offer opportunities in various locations and to support visibility of these opportunities the M2W .team have recently launched a new on line platform, which can be found via the following link http://www.movementtowork.com/young-people |
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Common mistakes employers make with National Minimum Wage By law you must pay workers at least the appropriate National Living or National Minimum Wage depending on their age and whether they’re an apprentice. The current rates are outlined below and click here to find out more information for employers.
Even if you are paying the correct minimum rates you should be aware of some common mistakes made when calculating worker’s wages which can result in not complying with the law. Examples include:
· Paying staff at the wrong rate by failing to implement annual rate increases, missing birthdays and therefore not moving workers from one age band to another or making errors in applying the apprentice rates. For example, apprentices are entitled to the apprentice rate only if they’re either aged under 19 or aged 19 or over and in the first year of their apprenticeship. So an apprentice aged 22 in the second year of their apprenticeship, is entitled to the higher minimum hourly rate for their age band.
· Making deductions or payments connected to the job, which take pay below the legal rates. For example, asking staff to pay for uniforms, tools and safety clothing.
· Including tips, shift allowances or bonuses as a part of staff pay.
· Unpaid working time, which essentially are additional hours worked but not paid. These can be regular periods of time such as time spent helping to shut up shop or clear security after an employee’s shift has ended. They can also be longer periods spent training or ‘down time’ waiting for example. Other common unpaid working time errors include travelling time if it’s in connection with the worker’s job, such as between assignments.
· Worker status errors by mistakenly (or intentionally) treating workers as either volunteers, or self-employed. Whilst genuine volunteers and self-employed aren’t entitled to the National Minimum or National Living Wage, workers are sometimes being treated as such in order to circumvent legal employer responsibilities.
The Government is committed to ensuring all employers are compliant with minimum wage legislation and the effective enforcement of it and will spend a record £25.3 million on enforcement over the next year.
If HMRC finds that an employer hasn’t paid the National Minimum or Living Wage the employer will have to pay any arrears to the worker together with a penalty. The employer may also be named in the media.
To find out more about National Minimum Wage and the errors to avoid visit our recorded webinars; Cutting your risk#1 and Cutting your risk#2. |
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The National Employer and Partnership Team would like to say thank you to all Employers, Trade Associations and Partners for the significant contribution you have made to the fall in unemployment, demonstrated in the figures. Edition 8: 16.08.2017 |
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NATIONAL EMPLOYER & PARTNERSHIP TEAM Employer News JUNE 2017 Welcome to the June 2017 edition of Employer News.
The DWP National Employer and Partnership Team (NEPT) will be using this e-shot to communicate items of interest to Employers, Trade Associations and Partners.
Your feedback is valuable! We hope you find "Employer News" useful and would welcome your feedback. Tell us about the article in today’s newsletter you found most helpful/relevant to your business? Please share your views through your DWP Account Manager or drop us a line at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
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Yesterday’s Labour Market Statistics HEADLINE NEWS - Employment reaches record high Official figures released today show the number of people in work has never been higher since records began in 1971. According to the Office of National Statistics, the employment rate is at a joint record high of 74.8%, with 31.95 million people now in work – an increase of 372,000 on the year. This rise has been driven by full time work with average weekly earnings up by 2.1% including bonuses. Meanwhile there are 50,000 fewer unemployed people with unemployment remaining at its lowest rate since 1975 at 4.6%. Secretary of State David Gauke said:
“This government wants to give everyone the opportunity to succeed, regardless of where they live or their background.
“This is yet another strong set of record-breaking figures with employment up and unemployment down, fuelled by full-time opportunities.
“This is good news for families as we continue to build a stronger, fairer Britain.”
Today’s figures also show: •the female employment rate is at a joint record high of 70.2%, with nearly 15 million women in work •the unemployment rate for 18 to 24 year olds who have left full time education is 10.7% – a joint record low •there are around 770,000 vacancies in the economy at any one time
Access the full article on GOV.UK |
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National Mentoring Consortium The Ethnic Minority Undergraduate Scheme (EMUS) is a successful mentoring programme providing support and experience to Black and Asian students planning managerial and professional careers. It matches students in a one-to-one mentoring relationship with staff members of employer organisations in business, law and the public sector.
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The National Employer and Partnership Team would like to say thank you to all Employers, Trade Associations and Partners for the significant contribution you have made to the fall in unemployment, demonstrated in the figures. Edition 14.06.2017 |
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NATIONAL EMPLOYER & PARTNERSHIP TEAM Employer News APRIL 2017 Welcome to the March April 2017 edition of Employer News.
The DWP National Employer and Partnership Team (NEPT) will be using this e-shot to communicate items of interest to Employers, Trade Associations and Partners.
Your feedback is valuable! We hope you find "Employer News" useful and would welcome your feedback. Tell us about the article in today’s newsletter you found most helpful/relevant to your business? Please share your views through your DWP Account Manager or drop us a line at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
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Yesterday’s Labour Market Statistics HEADLINE NEWS - Employment remains at record high rate of 74.6% Official figures released today (12 April 2017) show that the employment rate is at 74.6%, with 31.84 million people in work – an increase of 312,000 on the year and the joint highest rate since records began in 1971. The Office for National Statistics has also announced that the unemployment rate remains low at 4.7%. It has not been lower since 1975. Full-time work continues to be the driving force behind the rise in employment. Average weekly wages grew by 2.3% including bonuses over the last year. Wage growth has remained above 2% every month since the beginning of 2016. Secretary of State Damian Green said: This is yet another strong set of figures, with unemployment at a rate that hasn’t been beaten since the 1970s and more vacancies than ever before. More people are finding full-time jobs and average wages have grown yet again, meaning more families have the security of a regular wage. However, there is always more to do. That’s why we’re creating a welfare system that rewards work through Universal Credit, which helps claimants keep more of the money they earn. Access the full article on GOV.UK |
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Touchbase Issue 119
The latest edition of Touchbase is now available on gov.uk it includes News and articles from across government for advisers, employers and organisations that help people find jobs.
This month’s Touchbase focusses on the Personal Support Package initiative. The initiative offers tailored employment support which Jobcentre Plus work coaches will help disabled people or people with health conditions to access. It also includes information on: Work Programme referrals the Disability Employment Adviser role in jobcentres changes to Employment and Support Allowance work-related activity payments the defined benefit pension schemes green paper · the May 2017 local and mayoral elections |
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The National Employer and Partnership Team would like to say thank you to all Employers, Trade Associations and Partners for the significant contribution you have made to the fall in unemployment, demonstrated in the figures. Edition 12.04.2017 |
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Yesterday’s Labour Market Statistics HEADLINE NEWS - UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FALLS TO LOWEST SINCE 2005 Official figures released today show that the unemployment rate has fallen to 4.7% – the lowest level in 12 years. The Office for National Statistics has confirmed that employment continues to run at a record high rate of 74.6%, with 31.85 million people in work – an increase of 315,000 on the year and more than 2.8 million since 2010. The rise in employment continues to be driven by full-time work. Meanwhile, average weekly wages grew by 2.2% over the last year.
There are 1.58 million unemployed people, 106,000 fewer than this time last year, and the proportion of 16-24 year olds who have left full-time education and are unemployed is 5.1%. Long-term unemployment is at 393,000, the lowest since before the 2008 recession. Also from today’s figures there are around 760,000 vacancies in the economy at any one time.
Separate figures out today show more than one million claims have been made to Universal Credit (UC). Of the 410,000 households now receiving UC, around two-thirds are in work. Employment Minister, Damian Hinds, said:
“I’m delighted by another set of record-breaking figures showing more people in work than ever before and unemployment falling to its lowest in 12 years. Employment is up, wages are up and there are more people working full time. This is good news for hardworking families across the UK as we continue to build a country that works for everyone. But we have more to do, which is why we’re pressing ahead with our welfare reforms to ensure that it always pays to be in work.” Access the full article on GOV.UK |
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The National Employer and Partnership Team would like to say thank you to all Employers, Trade Associations and Partners for the significant contribution you have made to the fall in unemployment, demonstrated in the figures. Edition 16.03.2017 |
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New help for employers to get the talent they need
Looking to fill skills shortages, diversify your workforce and boost productivity? A new official guide for employers has been launched in partnership with BITC to help you do just that - by focusing on increasing inclusion in your workplace.
“Strengthening your workforce with talent from disadvantaged groups” is a step-by-step guide to help you review your recruitment practices and broaden your talent streams, to include candidates that are long-term unemployed, homeless, single parents or military veterans.
Evidence suggests these candidates bring fresh ideas and solutions to problems, go the extra mile to secure results and stay with their employer for longer.
Led by business greats Sir Richard Branson, Deborah Meaden and Simon Cowell, the #SeePotential campaign is now backed by over 100 businesses and is endorsed by the likes of the CBI, FSB, IOD and BCC.
To download the new guide and find out more about how inclusion can help your business, visit the new website here.
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The National Employer and Partnership Team would like to say thank you to all Employers, Trade Associations and Partners for the significant contribution you have made to the fall in unemployment, demonstrated in the figures. Edition 15.02.2017 |
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