Unemployment is a challenge. This blog looks at what is happening around the country and some solutions. You are not alone
These are personal thoughts-
Consultancy undertaken through benefits2work.com & http://jobsearchagent.co.uk/ 07963 137094
Introduction
I feature some views on the Unemployment situation News in the UK. We feature the latest on The U.K Unemployment News. The Youtube channel has a focus on UK Unemployment News with specially selected material
DWP for many years has sent Job seekers on training courses to boost their C.V's but also to create employability options
The more common training courses have included
Basic Food Hygiene Course
Manual Handling
First Aid
Many have been encouraged to check out Safeguarding and other related training courses. Often this was purely to put something on a CV
This used to take some planning to get these qualifications. Often they were not accessible.
However, the provider's market has changed.
Providers
I was contacted by David Stephenson this week. He is a Director at the Digital College
His company produce many of the key courses that DWP required recently and allow for the claimant to undertake the training through the internet. No longer is there a requirement to attend a building at a set time for training. The internet allows the Job seeker real options
The internet is opening many doors allowing us to provide training support through the internet.
Be Inspired's Managing Director Lisa Duffy also shared with me the work that her company is doing. Be Inspired is working with clients to provide them with solutions that overcome barriers
Having identified many of the issues that we have featured on our site's she has like ourselves provided individuals with assessed solutions.
The services her company provides are services that many really keen Job seekers will welcome.
As a job seeker in the U.K if you need help you need to ask. So that we can provide you with some solutions
Current DWP Minister Esther McVey receiving a grilling from the Select Committee of MPs chaired by Dame Anne Begg. A comical performance; McVey's rambling did not answer one question put to her, she didn't know figures asked of her, and denied evidence of DWP staff being harassed into sanctions targets
Impact questions were repeatedly asked of the Minister from as early as the first 5mins of the review
no evidence was offered of any success. I have included aproximate timings of comments throughout this video- so specific comments and questions can be followed in context.
DWP Punitive Sanctions
DWP Sanctions are described as punitive in this committee. by both Dame Anne Begg Chair of the Work and pensions Committee.
13:00-No research has been undertaken on the effects on Sanction on claimants own ability to survive
Advisors had made it clear that there was a culture of targeting the vulnerable with sanctions. This is shown in this cjss article.
15:50 -No support is really offered to sanctioned claimants.
17:11 mins-Sharon Gilmore indicates that many step back from the job search to deal with the finances. She felt that the claimants were treated like naughty children
DWP Communications
Some claimants often only found out that they had been sanctioned through checking their bank accounts.
The committee continues to question as to how the Sanctions are being reviewed and how the success is being checked and there is clear indication of avoidance of the issue. No evidence of defence is provided by the department
22:00 - No evaluation or review is planned of the Sanction system
35:00- Esther McVey states you cannot have a Welfare Benefit system without a punitive Sanction based system based on International evidence
37-38 Esther answers a question from Teresa Pearce indicating that although there is a Destination survey her department is unclear as to how many have gone into work due to sanctions and how many have just changed benefits.
Welfare benefit witheld
41:00- Debbie Abrahams asks about the money withheld from claimants. rising from 2010-2011 at 45 million to 60 million in 2011-12. esther indicates that Stephen Timms requst for further information has been turned down as the stats aren't accurate as they do not include Hardship benefits. This has led to the statisticians decision not to reveal more information.
Universal Credit
Debbie's constituency includes Oldham that has seen the introduction of Universal Credit in recent times.
43:00- Debbie indicates that £275 million has been witheld. A minute later Debbie refers Esther to Universal Credit conditionality. The Sanction issues related to in work sanctions on low pay.
Esther then indicates that there will be conditionality on the Universal Credit payments including
Requirements to reach a certain Threshold of income -£11.000 -Promotion, training etc....A random control pilot....
Linkedin really didn't appeal to me initially.Until I saw it's potential. Linkedin allows you to share who you are and what you about almost as if you were in the same room with other key people. You can share your CV and what makes you tick with others. You can join groups and read about what is really going on and ask the questions that you want to ask in a way that you cannot within all the other forms of social media. In many ways its more open than a website and more approachable than calling a company as you might have done some years ago If you are looking for work in a certain industry it's a great solution to look at the Recruitment within the industry and to see what the decision makers are saying within that sector. There is a Privacy option however, there is a great opportunity as a Job seeker to promote yourself.
Talk about your Passion
An excellent way of using Linkedin without being pushy. Wise words on personal marketing
TheLinkedin profile
The Linkedin profile provides an excellent opportunity to allow recruiters and potential employers to see your CV, Employment history, Interests and your ability to put your Skills and knowledge across without having to push. Instead contribute.
Linkedin Posts
Linkedin Posts
Linkedin Posts[/caption] Linkedin Posts are an opportunity to share your skills and knowledge on a subject that you might be passionate. Keep it relevant. Think before you post. maybe its worth seeing what others think of your posts As I write this page I regard myself as something of a novice on Linkedin, so my views and experience is limited. However, I feel that it's worth looking at .
Skills and Endorsements
LinkedIn provides the opportunity for others to endorse you. To vouch for you. Almost like a reference. This is a particularly usefull tool for Recruiters and employers. You can choose those key words and others can endorse you. In today's employment market that is an effective resource.
Following the arrival of the Labour Parties material arriving on my doorstep I heard- More people need to get better paid Jobs.
This has led me to reflect on the video and the Unemployment stats this month.
yes there is a need but the training provided for the future also needs to meet the skill gaps.
so that more people find the better paid Jobs
More People need to get better paid jobs
A statement made at the end of this video highlights a key issue within the U.K .
The reality is that the Full time employment is the key. Work that is skilled rather than Unemployment, Zero hour or part time work.
There is however some encouraging signs in the Graph presented here by the FT
The All remains red
If you look at self employment the strength in growth has been since 2013.
The Full time growth however stands out most since Nov 2013. Self Employment from the Graph however has been the greatest growth area
Reality wise is that there needs to be a feel good factor in the economy from the Conservative party from the perspective of the General Election.
Positive Encouraging Economy
Kings lyne is an area that has good news however the lower skilled work . The skilled employees are seeing the rises where as the lower skilled employees are continuing with their struggle.
The political reality is that the lower skilled electorate will require persuading where as the higher skilled employees may appreciate the changes that have occured in recent times. Labour Party
Labour is making promises that by 2020 they wish to see the minimum wage at £8.
Reality is that by 2020 it will need to be higher than that to meet bills that will be coming at that stage
Many will feel that is to long. The Conservatives will also have to look at this issue.
In 2008 I set up CJSS.org having heard John Kirby of CAPUK speak at Grapevine
I was moved and felt God saying that there was a need to set up a web site for the Unemployed and U.K job seekers. With the help of friends who undertook sponsored walks and assisted in web site design Cjss developed.
Many hours of research were undertaken.
CJSS.org Sats
Cjss statistics showed that it has attracted attention and developed. But there was also a need to provide an alternative to the platform that CJSS was set up on
It was clear that as the Government changed the planning of CJSS changed. I became aware there was a need to develop an alternative. site that has become Benefits2work.com.
Cjss and Benefits2work have been developed with a U.K theme. The majority of the material on the internet is American so part of the research undertaken is to search for Video material and place that on each site. Both sites have the option to share and to comment. On CJSS.org we have a prayer page.
At present all time is given free to develop the sites. Recently with additional resources we have input a more developed pay as you go and monthly subscription options on Benefits2work.
Benefits2work has a BuddyPress community built to allow questions answers as well as the option for companies to post Jobs.
On cjss.org you can see the number of viewings per posting and see several years of articles.
Both sites Time
Both sites take several hours a week. dependant on the news and articles that are featured. The sites require funding and this is where the Test of faith is ( Hebrews)
On average 15 to 20 hrs a week is commited to the sites for Free.
Financially the sites have had their costs covered privately but I now want to encourage others to to support the sites. There is a need for proof reading , genuine U.K contributors U.K bloggers and i welcome enquiries
The Hosting costs £180 a year.
I am praying that £1.000 a month can be raised to develop the site.
The current funding will be stopped at the end of this month as an act of Faith. So please either use the buttons here or on the respective web sites
