I’m pleased to share some big and welcome news about local employment support services this morning. The Government has confirmed that it is awarding £11.5 million to Southampton and the wider Solent region through its Connect to Work programme.
This will be used to increase support for disabled people, people with health conditions, and those with complex barriers to employment to get into and stay in work.
This funding will help around 3,600 people across our city and the wider region through:
– Giving participants a dedicated specialist employment support adviser who will work alongside them to understand their career goals and address barriers to employment
– Supporting participants to have conversations with prospective employers, removing the need to go through complex application processes
– The employment adviser will work with both the employer and the participant to ensure that the transition into work is smooth and that the workplace is inclusive
Connect to Work services are expected to open throughout the Autumn and I’ll share news of these from Southampton City Council nearer the time.
In the meantime, you can read more about Connect to Work on the government’s website.