London boroughs got 18,000 Londoners into work during the pandemic via a delegated employment support programme, new figures from the Job Entry Targeted Support (JETS) Programme reveal.
The JETS Programme was launched nationally in October 2020 to reduce the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on unemployment. It provided additional voluntary support for people who had been unemployed for more than three months.
A recent JETS Programme Evaluation report, commissioned by the London borough subregional partnerships and carried out by SQW, has revealed that the London JETS Programme exceeded required outcomes, often by as much as 150-200%.
In total just over 41,000 Londoners started the JETS programme, of which around 18,000 successfully found jobs as a result.
JETS initially provided six months of support to help people return to employment, and was later extended to September 2022. The programme included help with CV writing, interview skills and searching for jobs, along with support to boost confidence and motivation. For some, it offered support with applying for jobs after being out of work for a long time. Participants were also assisted with identifying transferable skills.
The initial target set nationally and in most parts of London was for 22.5% of JETS Programme participants to gain employment. The report revealed performance in London had exceeded this and was often between 150-200% higher than the target, which was set by the Department of Work and Pensions. The evaluation also found that people who secured a job through JETS in London were more likely to stay in that job than in other regions.
The report found that the success of the programme in London was due to a number of factors. Firstly, all providers in the capital introduced in-work support during the programme in order to help people during their first weeks at a new job. This was over and above the original national offer. Some providers also ensured participants had access to enhanced wellbeing support, introduced mentoring, and made sure to include both face to face and hybrid options for carrying out the programme.
The willingness of London’s subregions and their providers to adapt the JETS programme and offer a range of options meant that that participants were more likely to access support in the first place and continue to benefit from it in the long term.
Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz, London Councils’ Executive Member for Skills and Economy, said:
“In London, we are immensely proud of the outstanding success of the Job Entry Targeted Support (JETS) Programme. Collaboration between London boroughs with our residents has truly made this initiative a resounding triumph. The programme’s performance was often between 150-200% higher than the national target. This means we’ve been able to have a greater positive impact on our residents.
“This shows just what London boroughs can do at a local level when given powers and resources. We are keen to work with government to replicate this success in further areas.
“Our commitment to tailoring employment support to the unique needs of Londoners proved to be a gamechanger. It’s not just about helping people find jobs; it’s about transforming lives, and I am confident that the success of JETS will serve as a model for future work programmes looking to combat unemployment effectively.”
