JET – Jobs, Enterprise and Training – was set up in 2009 and is a complete recruitment, training and consultancy service helping the unemployed back into work. The service operates exclusively in Stoke-on-Trent and the surrounding north Staffordshire area.
Set up and run by Stoke-on-Trent city council, JET operates as two complementary services: information, advice and guidance for the unemployed and the employer support network of JET Business. These two aspects to the JET model make the service unique and mean that local unemployed people can be matched to suitable employers quickly if they meet the criteria for the role.
‘Matrix’-accredited employment advisers provide confidential information, advice and guidance, work-related training and support for those who have been out of work. Many people lack confidence after losing their jobs or being out of work for some time, and the team works to rebuild confidence and self-esteem before helping people access training courses, learn new skills, or helping them prepare for job interviews. All training courses are work-related and are aimed at filling job vacancies that actually exist in the north Staffordshire area. When people have been through any training required for the role, support is given to help with the interview – from what to wear, body language and interview technique. It even helps people buy an outfit if that is a worry, and also assist with travel costs to help get them to the interview.
The JET business team are professional recruiters with over 60 years’ experience in the recruitment industry and extensive knowledge of the local area. They aim to match the right person to the right vacancy and go out of their way to understand the business needs, market position, values and future objectives of the organisation they are working with. The team works with over 800 businesses and is seen as a key part of the Make It Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Inward Investment Service’s offer for businesses locating to the area. Last year the Inward Investment Service helped businesses to bring 1,000 new jobs to the area and many of these were filled via the JET service.
Once they get someone a job, they continue to support both them and the business – checking that everything is going well and both parties are happy. This helps people stay in employment and also ensures businesses are satisfied. Indeed, employer satisfaction is so high (80 per cent plus), many of them return asking JET to find them more staff.
In places like Stoke-on-Trent, this approach is essential – matching local people to real jobs and business need. As someone said to us recently, JET is ‘just the job’!
Labour locally got elected promoting our ‘Mandate for Change’ to deliver jobs and growth and our JET service is helping us deliver transformation and positive change despite the horrendous cuts imposed on us by the Tory-led government.
—————————————————————————————
Mark Meredith is former cabinet member for economic development, culture and sport on Stoke-on-Trent city council. He tweets @MarkMeredith01
—————————————————————————————
Why should councils, facing massive cuts, use Council Tax Payers money to do the job of the DWP – or to duplicate that role. Clearly this is a good idea in principle – but Stoke is massively cutting other services it provides to the public, so unless this is grant funded, or self-funded by employer contributions, it doesn’t seem something to promote – as Councils will have to cut other services to fund it.