JETS Legacy Report 2023

JETS. Working through a pandemic.

As an existing provider of the Department for Work and Pensions’ Work and Health Programme, Ingeus was one of a handful of trusted providers with the expertise, scale, and connections to effect meaningful change in the tumultuous UK labour market through this new service.

Unprecedented. Unparalleled. Unbeatable.

Job Entry Targeted Support (JETS) officially launched on Monday 5th October 2020. A time that saw hundreds of thousands of people displaced from work by the Covid pandemic, facing health and social challenges never experienced in peace times.

Its aim was simple, albeit mammoth: get unemployed people affected by the pandemic back to work quickly.

As an existing provider of the Department for Work and Pensions’ (DWP) Work and Health Programme, Ingeus was one of a handful of trusted providers with the expertise, scale, and connections to effect meaningful change in the tumultuous UK labour market through this new service.

JETS by name, JETS by nature… it was a challenge we responded to in type: mobilising quickly, professionally, and with people’s wellbeing always at the heart of our services. JETS was mobilised in seven weeks during a global pandemic, requiring us to work in a different way, very quickly. From interviewing staff virtually to building strong, collaborative relationships online, our teams made this possible with agile and innovative responses to the changing world we all found ourselves in.

It worked incredibly well, in incredible times. JETS has been heralded as the most successful employability programme to date, and our enthusiastic, caring, creative, and supportive teams have ensured that its legacy will last long beyond the completion of services in April 2023.

Ingeus supported more than 65,000 JETS participants.

Its aim was simple albeit mammoth: get unemployed people affected by the pandemic back to work quickly.

A fast-moving back-towork action plan

JETS provided employability support including CV writing, job searching, interview techniques, reviewing transferable skills, and confidence building to jobseekers receiving benefits and actively searching for work. Referred by Jobcentre Plus, participants were typically newly unemployed and received support for up to six months from a dedicated Ingeus employment coach, with access to thousands of online resources, and an army of health specialists and partner organisations. It offered tailored, flexible support for people facing unfamiliar territory.

Of equal merit was JETS’ sector-based approach, supporting employers and responding quickly to local need by upskilling and pivoting jobseekers into available jobs – many of which they may never have considered.

Integral to the government’s Jobs Plan, JETS was backed by a £238 million state investment, co-financed by the European Social Fund. It was administered by the DWP and devolved regional authorities as a separate strand of the Work and Health Programme. Ingeus delivered JETS in the North West, Greater Manchester, and Central London, and supported other prime providers, Reed in Partnership and Shaw Trust, in the North East and West Midlands respectively.

workshops delivered to an audience of over 150,000 attendees.

Ingeus helped more than 33,000 people back into work.

Lived experience

The recruitment of additional employment coaches for JETS purposely leaned towards people from different industries and job roles. We brought in colleagues with new insights to share, who were able to relay their own experiences of unemployment and/or exploring new work avenues to enrich our participants’ experiences.

Weighted with our existing in-house expertise and industry training, the JETS regional teams quickly built rapport with participants and delivered targetbusting results when it was needed the most. We now have amazingly experienced coaches moving onward and upward throughout Ingeus.

Finding work in a new sector

Out of work Shanae Dunkley sought help from an JETS in the West Midlands – landing her a new career helping unemployed people to improve their job search skills.

“I just felt that it was meant to be,” said 27 year old Shanae from Edgbaston in Birmingham. Shanae was made redundant and subsequently struggled to find work due to the pandemic and economic downturn. She had experience as an office manager, dealing with administration, as well as liaising directly with customers, and managing a team of subcontractors providing repair and home maintenance services.

“I failed to recognise that I had transferrable skills and could consider working in different sectors,” she explained. “The sessions I attended with Ingeus were invaluable and helped me to appreciate the skills that I had built up.”

“My Shaw Trust Employment Advisor, Majella Fitzpatrick, asked me about where I had previously worked and gradually built up a picture of my experience,” added Shanae. “I felt that my CV needed improving and was referred

to Ingeus for employability support. My work history meant that I had a transferrable skill set and my drama degree ensures that I know how to present information and engage with people.”

Shanae used the Ingeus iWorks online platform to gain further insights on how her CV would be scored at the initial assessment stage and improved her interview techniques. Recognising her skills, her employment coach encouraged Shanae to apply for a vacancy working with unemployed people.

“The extensive support and guidance that I received from Ingeus ensured that I was thoroughly prepared for my interview – and I got the job,” said Shanae. “I feel my success is a sign that I can encourage other jobseekers to work in sectors they may not have considered before.”

491 Ingeus team members helped deliver JETS.

Rising to a different challenge

JETS teams across the regions forged strong links with the communities they supported, voluntarily giving their time to good causes.

Whether they were transforming community venues, organising donations, helping care residents enjoy the great outdoors, or putting the fun into fundraising, our teams brushed up, cleared out, and dug deep!

Working with partner organisations, local charities, community venues and Ingeus colleagues, the collective goodwill of our teams forged lasting team bonds and made a huge impact.

The partners

Ingeus understands that there’s strength in numbers. JETS demanded talented supply chain and referral partners to best serve the diverse range of people we were intent on helping. Across the regions we partnered with trusted employability experts, training providers, health and wellbeing partners, housing associations, advocacy services, self-employment specialists and more to providing meaningful help to people. We employed dedicated integration coordinators and implemented specialist software to ensure a joined-up approach that matched local services with the very specific skills, health or social barriers faced by our participants.

different Jobcentre Plus offices referred jobseekers for Ingeus’ help.

We used 101 different skills providers to provide free training to JETS participants.

“I took Groundwork London’s JETS contract over in 2021, there were elements of the contract that required additional support from Ingeus. From this partnership we have been one of the top performers, in the London supply chain.

Alongside this partnership our Employment Liaison Officer has an excellent working relationship with Ingeus’ Employee Account Manager. This collaboration has led to excellent job outcomes with Zara (pan London).

Overall our partnership with Ingeus has been a complete success!”

Nicky Bhatoey-Turnbull Employment and Skills Programme Manager Groundwork London and Groundwork South

Technology

Covid may have forced the nation’s hand to socially distance, but it also opened our eyes to new, sometimes better, ways of interacting. Remote delivery – phone calls, video chats, text groups, webinars, online platforms – meant more people could access our help, especially those with caring responsibilities or health issues.

Our teams were supported to work from home where required, and we offered equipment and digital accessibility support to participants that need it.

Employers

As employers battled with lockdown restrictions, staffing issues and an ever-changing economy, their determination to reinvent and re-emerge never diminished. Our thanks go to every employer that gave us an insight to their industry or organisation, provided feedback to candidates, or snapped up our JETS participants. Many employers appreciated the free, expert support of the Ingeus employer services team, sourcing and preparing candidates for their vacancies, and knew to look beyond a CV to harness the talents of people shaken by unexpected worklessness.

Ingeus provided more than 4,500 free tablets and laptops to participants to support their job search.

Supplying more than 1,500 phones and SIM cards also enabled JETS participants to stay connected.

From construction, engineering, and transport to scientific research, journalism,

the performing arts, JETS participants were recruited to a wide range of industries covering 26 sectors. Most popular were retail, administration, and care roles.

and

“Through working together, we have helped get people into work for the upcoming season in both the supermarket and activities team. We hope to continue to build great and lasting relations with the fabulous team at Ingeus.”

Robert Madigan, People Administrator at Haven Lakeland

Flexible support

While JETS may be described as a light touch employability programme, operating during, and in the aftermath of, a pandemic brought specific challenges. Digital accessibility was, and remains, a huge hurdle for some, while the physical and mental health impact of the past two years will have long term impacts for many. Ingeus’ holistic support was never more vital. From Ingeus’ iWorks career portal, available free to all participants, to healthspecific workshops, mental health interventions, and money management, the empathy, patience and practical support offered by our teams was exceptional.

Ingeus placed candidates into work across 26 employment sectors.

The jobseekers

Often bravely conquering self-doubt, more than 33,000 Ingeus participants walked through the door (sometimes virtually) of a new employer. JETS was unique in giving Ingeus early access to recently unemployed people, which paid dividends. With a little encouragement and the skill of our employment coaches, people recognised their hidden talents – and maxed them! JETS may have secured a job for life, or simply a financially solid steppingstone along the career ladder, but the benefits of that good work can never be underestimated.

Common barriers faced by JETS participants included low confidence and motivation, lack of transport, debt, caring responsibilities, mental health issues, digital literacy, criminal convictions, having no fixed address, and poor English language skills.

nurse Marlo Webster. “I felt listened

“I really feel empowered after being on the JETS programme,” enthuses mental health and substance misuse

to at every stage, they delivered empathetic help from the first telephone call. Now I’m back in work, contented and truly grateful for the support from JETS.”

“Thanks to JETS, I was able to build my confidence and find this job. It is a dream come true and I feel a real sense of satisfaction. I’m contributing financially and working within school hours, which means I still have my family time too.”

Marlo

Min

A job well done

JETS’ commissioners applauded the exceptional work of providers at the DWP’s JETS Celebration Awards in February 2023, where Ingeus received two awards and one commendation:

• Scooping the Partnership Award, the DWP recognised our collaboration with The Better Health Generation in the North West, which helped more than 200 participants manage mental and physical health challenges through the pandemic.

• Ingeus colleague Clare Dennon from Greater Manchester proudly accepted the JETS Advisor Award after going the extra mile for her participants and local community.

• Participant Laura Suddens was commended by the judges for the JETS Participant Switch Award for her resilience, determination, and flexibility after trading a lost career in engineering for a new working life in HR.

We also went on to host our own celebration events, commending our teams and partners for a job well done.

Spreading success

Innovative ideas and new ways of working were instrumental to the success of JETS. Many of them will remain and expand into new areas of Ingeus’ work, but one great idea from Greater Manchester has already gone global.

Originally set up in 2020, the Money Management service offered monetary advice, such as budgeting and how to deal with debt, to JETS participants in Manchester. Within two years, the service had extended across not only Ingeus UK’s employability programmes but to Ingeus’ parent company, APM, in Australia. The JETS team provided a financial awareness programme for APM’s

Money Management service in Manchester will now reach an estimated 100,000 international participants.

‘Employable

Me’ digital platform, which supports vulnerable 18–24-year-olds. The platform is set to expand into other APM offices internationally.

Resources from the JETS

Take Two: Life after JETS

After a life on stage, entertainer Steve James feared it was the final curtain call when he was made redundant in 2020. Aged 65 at the time, he imagined he’d be at the back of any vacancy queues. A week after joining JETS, he was back in work!

“I went to something completely different, working from home on the track and trace programme,” says Steve. “I loved it and happily worked for just under a year. I had the option to extend my contract but when it came to the decision to retire, I knew the time was finally right.”

Now actively enjoying retirement with his grandson, Steve added: “I’m so thankful to JETS for an unexpected and useful extra year of work. It gave me financial support and purpose during a difficult time. I didn’t feel I’d had to stop work early, not of my own choosing, that was important. For me, it was the perfect swan song.”

Stephen

Two years on, we revisit Mia and Stephen, two early recipients of JETS support to see how they’re progressing.

Mia

Mia Beresford, now 21, was just 19 when JETS helped her into a customer service role at Tesco Extra in Toxteth. Enjoying the camaraderie with workmates and customers alike, Mia’s temporary contract was made permanent. She still works stocking the fresh food isles three days a week and can’t thank JETS enough for the life experience and head space it provided…

“When lockdown hit, I was stuck, nothing was happening,” recalls Mia. “JETS came just at the right moment, giving me confidence and practical tips for my Tesco interview. I’ve been able to help my mum with rent and bills for the past couple of years, while deciding my next steps.

“I now manage work with a pharmacy degree. My job meant I was able to save and get a head start on my university expenses. I’m also hoping to get some extra work experience in the Tesco in-store pharmacy!”

enabling better lives by putting local people in local jobs. To do that in the height of a pandemic demanded new solutions, new technology, and new expertise. Its success is testament to the incredible teams who delivered it and the resilient, purposeful jobseekers who embraced it.”

“JETS enabled Ingeus to do what it does best,

Amanda Newell Head of Delivery, JETS