TAPPING INTO JOBCENTRE PLUS

In today’s digital age, many Gen Z and perhaps some Millennials may never have visited a job centre, or what is today called a JobCentre Plus centre. This vital service is for everyone, and it’s free.

Government-run JobCentre Plus venues are employment agencies, not just benefits and social security offices. They can help you find a job if you are unemployed and support you in applying for payments if you are on a low or no income.

Your local JobCentre Plus team offers support to help you enter or re-enter the workforce, explains and enables you to access training opportunities or acquire the skills that are in demand across the Liverpool City Region. You can get face-to-face support whether you are seeking your first job, returning after a career break, or switching industries. 

This guide unpacks how JobCentre Plus provides its service so you can understand what happens behind the ‘job centre’ doors.

Who is there to support you?

Each JobCentre Plus hub has a dedicated team of trained staff trained to address the unique requirements of each person who walks through the doors.

Work Coaches provide one-to-one support for jobseekers and Universal Credit claimants, creating a personalised job search plan. They coach you based on your skills, listen to your ambitions, and connect you with suitable opportunities. They will also manage your expectations and support you in becoming economically active. 

You can also ask for advice on your CV and preparing for interviews. And don’t forget to ask if they can help you navigate childcare arrangements and transport.

Advisors are employed to provide extra support. You can tap into their service if you have a disability, are a single parent or a young person looking to enter the workplace for the first time. They can point you in the right direction for support, ranging from mental health resources to financial advice. 

Advisors can match you with employers that are running certain work programmes[https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sector-based-work-academies-employer-guide/sector-based-work-academies-employer-guide], are offering work experience[https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/employers-could-you-offer-work-experience/work-experience-employer-guide], or help you secure a work trial [https://www.gov.uk/moving-from-benefits-to-work/work-experience-trials].

Employer Engagement Teams match local firms with talent. This means your local JobCentre Plus can help you access vacancies that might not be widely advertised elsewhere. 

What else is available?

JobCentre Plus can provide information about different work-readiness programmes which help those looking to develop skills for jobs or career changes. These include:

Skills Bootcamps [https://lcrbemore.co.uk/skillsbootcamps/] help you develop skills to find work if you are unemployed or if you want to develop to take on new responsibilities in your current place of work. They are free for individuals, with employers contributing towards the cost of these courses. The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority collaborates with employers and training providers to deliver these short training programmes for in-demand skills. Keep an eye out for new announcements of opportunities in logistics, rail, digital, visitor economy and green skills, among others. 

Access to Work [https://www.gov.uk/access-to-work] can help you secure or remain in work if you have a physical or mental health condition or a disability. This could range from funding adaptations to your vehicle so you can get to work, support with your mental health or access to a coach to help you settle into a job. Check your eligibility [https://www.gov.uk/access-to-work/eligibility].

A Sector-base Work Academy Programme (SWAP) is your gateway to industry-specific experience, training and a job interview. Your local Job Centre Plus will know if and when any are running near you. In the Liverpool City Region SWAPs have helped people into jobs in logistics, warehousing, and healthcare. 

Your local office

By getting people into work and matching employers with skills, JobCentre Plus offices underpin local growth and stability. They can also advise on apprenticeships, seasonal jobs, and any other work-readiness training sessions that are running. 

Find your nearest JobCentre Plus using your postcode [https://find-your-nearest-jobcentre.dwp.gov.uk/search.php].