UKSPF People and Skills is helping over 1,300 residents in our sub-region to find employment that works for them.

Many of the people the programme intends to help have mental or physical health issues, or other circumstances preventing them from looking for work.

Since starting in January 2024, over 1,300 people have been referred onto the programme, which is being delivered by our member boroughs’ employment brokerage services.

Through UKSPF People and Skills local people have been equipped with the understanding they need to manage their health and wellbeing long term, and locally-tailored employment support; including upskilling adults, particularly those with no or low-level qualifications.

As a result of the commitment of teams in our boroughs, the programme is helping people who were not looking for work consider themselves ready or closer to seeking employment.

• 55% of people on the programme are now actively job searching
• 26% have reported an increase employability skills
• 13% of people have gone on to successfully find employment
• Work Redbridge is the first borough to exceed expectations by supporting more people than it expected to be able to through the programme. Congratulations!

Who is UKSPF People and Skills helping?

Charlie*, a young care leaver recently moved to Havering was referred to Havering Works from the Leaving Care Team. Through the UKSPF programme, Havering Works helped him completed his L1 and L2 in bricklaying, and gain his CSCS card. With no relevant work experience, or connections, Havering Works supported Charlie to create a sector-specific CV, they put him in contact with local employers and helped him register for apprenticeships.

This is more than a job

With the support of Havering Works and a local college, Charlie secured an apprenticeship. After a successful work trial, Charlie’s employer decided he was more advanced than an apprentice and offered him a full-time role, subject to him being able to purchase a starter tool kit. The UKSPF grant enabled Havering Works to purchase the required tools and now Charlie is now a full time ‘Bricklaying Improver’. Charlie commented “This is more than a job, this is a career”.

Nina*, an Afghan refugee and now Waltham Forest resident, was supported to attend English language classes and with help from the team at Waltham Forest has secured employment at the Forest Cinema.

I really felt lost until I received the support

She said “The team have been incredibly helpful and I am so grateful for the support I received. I really felt lost until I received the support from Waltham Forest Council and I now feel like I am part of the community.”

*names changed

Find out about UKSPF People and Skills near you:

• Barking and Dagenham – find out more at B&D Works (formerly Job Shop)
• Bexley– find out more at BBE (Bexley Business and Employment)
• Bromley – find out more at Good Work Bromley Exchange at LSEC (London South East College)
• Enfield – find out more at STEPS (Skills Training Employment Pillar)
• Greenwich – find out more at GGLaB (Greenwich Local Labour & Business)
• Havering – find out more at Havering Works
• Newham – find out more at Our Newham Works
• Redbridge – find out more at Work Redbridge
• Waltham Forest – find out more at Waltham Forest Jobs

This programme is supported through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund which is providing £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit UK Shared Prosperity Fund

Work and Health Programme Pioneer was launched in September 2023, to provide personalised help to support people facing complex barriers to work. Different to other programmes, it is designed to provide support to help people get into work quickly, whether they are receiving benefits or not.

People in the Local London sub-region can be referred to this support by local Jobcentres as well as Maximus UK, our contracted delivery partners.

⇒ Get in touch with Maximus UK about Work and Health Programme Pioneer. 

This is one of our suite of employment programmes that combined have helped over 16,000 local people find work, many of whom were furthest from the job market and facing barriers to entering employment.

Andrea, from Havering, was looking for work that could fit around her childcare responsibilities and was eager to work. Andrea’s local jobcentre recognised she would be a good fit for Work and Health Programme Pioneer and made the referral to Maximus, who were delighted to talk her about her skills and passions, and the help the programme could provide.

Andrea was matched with Sandra, one of the programme’s key workers at Maximus. Sandra helped apply for roles that would benefit from her creative flair and previous experience in merchandising. With help from Sandra to revamp her CV, it was not long before she landed a part-time flexible role as a merchandiser.

Helped to find work Andrea’s story did not end there.

Andrea had long-term unfulfilled career ambitions of getting into web development, so Sandra helped her enrol onto a web development bootcamp. Andrea is doing this alongside her job, and Sandra is supporting her to build a new web developer CV and portfolio based on the projects and homework which Andrea is doing through the bootcamp.

Andrea said “My keyworker, Sandra, has been very helpful through this experience and has been with me every step of the way. She is currently helping me pursue my long-term goal to be a web developer.

Through Work and Health Programme Pioneer, I got help with creating and tailoring my CV, job searches and to get a part-time job. Importantly, I was shown how working would affect my current benefits and housing support as I wasn’t sure if I would be staying in the same accommodation.

On top of this I was reimbursed for the cost of my first month of travel and clothes to wear and have had check-up phone calls to see how I’m doing and if I need any help with anything.

I am now studying and am excited to start a brand new career in web development once I graduate. I am feeling more confident finding work in this field, and am delighted to have ongoing support now if I need it with the job I am currently working.”

*Names have been changed.

⇒ Get in touch with Maximus UK about Work and Health Programme Pioneer. 

⇒ Find out more about Local London Work and Health Programme Pioneer.

Working with Maximus, our delivery partners the Local London’s Work and Health Programme has helped over 6,000 people in our boroughs to find work since it began in 2018.

Extended until 2026 to help residents in Local London who are furthest from the job market to find employment, we recently brokered a local agreement between Jobcentre Plus and Maximus that has cleared a self-referral bottleneck that was preventing residents from self-referring on to the programme.  Within the first two months of implementation over 60 residents joined the programme through the self-referral process, allowing more people across our boroughs to access the support they need.

For some people the programme transforms their lives beyond simply finding work, including Heather* in Havering who was thrilled with the support she has received. For her the experience has changed her outlook on life and she cannot wait to see what her future holds now.

Heather said: “As a single mum of 3 children under 10 and suffering from severe depression and anxiety, going on the Work and Health Programme was a massive step for me. Before I did this, I struggled to leave the house due to my mental health. I was really nervous about my first meeting, but my coach Jasvinder was so welcoming and has been very helpful. She instantly made me feel comfortable.

All my life, even before having my own, I’ve wanted to work with children, but I didn’t know where to start!

I didn’t complete any GCSE’s as, due to some difficult mental health issues, I left school in year 9 and was home schooled.

I’d worked in an office before I had my first child doing customer service but apart from that, I had no previous qualifications or experience. However, during lockdown I managed to complete two Level 2 courses at home – ‘Introducing caring for children and young people’ and ‘Understanding children and young people’s mental health’ but following that I just didn’t know what to do.

Then I met Jasvinder. She found me an amazing course to complete; Level 3 ‘Specialist support for teaching and learning in schools.’

This course was fully paid for by Maximus and they even lent me a Chromebook to ensure I could get all my course completed as stress-free as possible. I was worried I wouldn’t be able to do it, but Jasvinder was amazing and so supportive, ensuring I had everything in place and offering her ear to vent to about any worries I may have. I’m now just waiting to complete a work placement in a school and will be fully qualified and guaranteed a ton of opportunities and that is thanks to Maximus and Jasvinder, giving me the chance and the opportunity to make something of myself. And I cannot wait to see what my future holds now.

I am so grateful because, yes it pushed me out of my comfort zone, especially travelling to Stratford but I did it with her support and guidance and it felt so good. I have developed a much more positive outlook on life and am following my dreams! Maximus are continuing to support me to get my ID and get professional references for any future work!

Remember you can be anything you want with the correct support, and I would 100% recommend Maximus and the Work and Health Programme!”

The Local London Work and Health Programme provides support for up to 21 months for people who have been unemployed for 24 months or more or have long-term health conditions and/or disabilities.

Funded by The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) and European Social Fund (ESF), we work with Maximus and manage the programme on behalf of our boroughs – Barking and Dagenham, Bexley, Bromley, Enfield, Greenwich, Havering, Newham, Redbridge and Waltham Forest – to help more people get into and retain good jobs.

Find out more: whp.maximusuk.co.uk/london

*name has been changed.