New employment support for Lichfield District Council residents
A new scheme called the Lichfield Discovery Programme has been launched to help residents access tailored support to improve their skills and employment opportunities. The programme connects low-qualified residents with jobs search and sector specific training and provides direct access to better jobs, while providing employers with the skills that local businesses need. It is being delivered by Jobs 22 on behalf of Lichfield District Council and funded by the Workforce Development Initiative.
The programme begins on 1 August 2024 and will run until 31 March 2025.
The Workforce Development Initiative aims to elevate the skills and qualifications of Lichfield District Council’s residents, particularly those who are currently underqualified and/or facing employment challenges and aims to connect low-qualified residents with local growth sectors, thereby enhancing employability and fostering economic development.
Dominant sectors in Lichfield’s local economy include accountancy, building and construction, catering, cyber security, digital marketing, entrepreneurship, horticulture and social care. Lichfield Discovery Programme will support residents to address skills shortages in these areas and address training individual training needs.
Councillor Janice Silvester-Hall, Cabinet Member for Visitor Economy, Ecology and Climate Change at Lichfield District Council, said: “Improving employability levels across the district is an important priority for the council, to help develop our local economy.
“We also know that support in related areas can also play a huge part in helping local people secure better jobs and then thrive in them. Jobs 22 is the ideal provider to help us deliver this priority and we look forward to working with them over the coming year.”
The programme's success will be measured against a number of performance criteria, including the number of people supported in: education and training, gaining vocational licenses and accredited qualifications, securing employment.
Louise Blanchard-Knight, the programme lead for Lichfield Discovery at Jobs 22 said: “We’re excited and grateful to Lichfield District Council for giving us this opportunity to help increase the life chances for local residents.
“We already have an office in Lichfield where our staff have been helping long-term unemployed people get back into work as part of the Department for Work and Pension’s Restart Scheme. We have an experienced team with strong local knowledge and a very healthy employer network to give residents access to sustainable work that fits with their family situation and aspirations.”
Jobs 22 is part of AKG; AKG UK country manager Ayden Sims said, “Jobs 22 takes its role in reducing unemployment and contributing to the growth and diversification of Lichfield’s local economy, very seriously. Programmes like Discovery can transform the lives of local people when they have access to skills, health and employment services.”
The bespoke services will be delivered locally at the Jobs 22 office in Lichfield and across several accessible community locations.
For more information and to register interest, call 0333 242 1910, email discovery.lichfield@jobs-22.co.uk.
