New Routes into Employment to Help Overcome Barriers

NEW routes into employment are to be created to help Tameside residents who may experience barriers to kick-start their careers.

Tameside Council’s Executive Cabinet has approved the plans to create clearer employment pathways and an extended work experience offer within the authority – which is intended to inspire other local employers to follow suit.

Initiatives include:

• Offering supported internships for young people with an Education, Health & Care Plan (EHCP): a structured, work-based, one-year study programme for 16 to 25-year-olds with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) that combines full-time education with learning in a workplace.
• Offering specific work experience opportunities, and a clear pathway to professionals providing support.

The council already has a comprehensive work experience offer, which the initiatives will enhance.

The majority of council employment opportunities are available through the ‘traditional’ route of online application forms and face-to-face interviews, but these can be a barrier to some applicants, which these alternative employment routes can alleviate. Currently, only 5.1% of people with SEND gain permanent paid employment in the UK, compared to 80% of their peers.

The council’s Routes to Work Supported Employment team already provide employment support to residents with disabilities, achieving 24 job starts last year. They are also supporting other local organisations to create more inclusive recruitment processes.

Cllr Jack Naylor, Executive Member for Inclusive Growth, Business and Employment, said: “Our Routes to Work team already do a fantastic job in supporting residents with disabilities into employment and these initiatives will help others overcome barriers to kick-start fulfilling and rewarding careers.

“They will also help increase work skills and nurture communities, while increasing the numbers of working-age adults in employment will reduce pressures on services and boost the local economy.”