Designed to bring partners, industry experts and businesses together, the Coventry & Warwickshire Redundancy
Support Service has been developed to support local businesses through these turbulent times. In helping them as
they are forced to make difficult decisions about their workforce & business, the service aims to equip businesses
with the tools and guidance they require to make plans for the future, whatever the outcome might be.
One of the aims of the service is to engage with businesses, discover what challenges they are facing as the economic crisis evolves and gather information around the local needs, in order to shape our services and provide additional resources if required.
Over the coming months, the Coventry & Warwickshire Redundancy Support Service will create a programme of activities, to provide support to businesses and those facing redundancy. Activities will include workshops and virtual clinics, live job fairs and training; with services designed to be flexible and shaped to meet individual needs.
Other delivery partners with services for job seekers, include Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, Department for Work & Pensions and Career's Hub.
Providing a front door service, the CWLEP Growth Hub identifies the business’ initial needs and registers the relevant data, recording the services and support needed. This helps to build a digital support plan for the business, which can be built upon as further requirements are identified.
Offering a blend of business support and employment support the Department for Work and Pensions provides an established service and works with the CW Redundancy Support Service to address the various barriers job seekers may experience to re-entering the job market.
For employers making over 20 redundancies, there is a statutory requirement for DWP to directly support and record redundancies and job brokerage is offered as a part of this service, together with the CW Redundancy Support Service.
Skills Support for Redundancy (SSR) is an initiative designed to support employers and individuals affected by redundancy. SSR is a tailored service to meet your needs, offering a wide range of training support. Co-financed by the Education & Skills Funding Agency and European Social Fund, this service is delivered by Serco.
If you are an employer facing an organisational restructure or the prospect of making hard decisions about staff redundancy, there is funded support available to you.
The SSR programme will ensure that your employees get access to bespoke training and careers guidance, and support them to find suitable employment.
The CW Redundancy Support Service recognises that businesses, and those facing redundancy, may wish to engage with the services available in different ways, perhaps some more discreet than others and at a time to suit them. The range of support is accessible for all and driven by those using it.
Furthermore, a range of information packs will be available for those who do not wish to directly engage with the service and a range of events and supportive links for those who would benefit from direct support and guidance.
Aimed at businesses to outline the support available, which includes information on both growth and redundancy support, the virtual support workshops provide an introduction to available support, with one-to-one support made available following the event.
Virtual one-to-one clinics are designed for businesses who require confidential support and, each week, pre-bookable clinic slots are available. Upon booking, businesses should submit outline information to support the team in ensuring the right support is available during the one-to-one. Following the one-to-one, relevant information will be sent to the business and additional support offered where needed.
These services will be launching in early November. Please sign up to the Employment Solutions newsletter to be alerted as soon as these services are available.
The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS), works with millions of employers and employees every year to improve workplace relationships. An independent public body that receives funding from the government, ACAS has developed a dedicated coronavirus advice service for businesses, which includes advice regarding redundancy, pay and wages, employment contracts, job applications and hiring and more.
The Warwickshire Skills Hub offers a variety of business skills support with a dedicated team who support businesses to create skills plans, source new talent and promote their business to those who might be seeking employment and career opportunities. Support is offered on an ongoing basis, in order to support businesses on every step of their growth journey. The Skills Hub team also run a series of workshops throughout the year, to share skills information and updates, and explore key areas of interest for Warwickshire businesses regarding skills support.
The Coventry & Warwickshire Skills 4 Growth project is a European Social Fund project managed by Coventry City Council,
working in partnership with the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership and Growth Hub alongside other major stakeholders to deliver accredited and non-accredited training, ranging from leadership and management through to technical and soft skills.
The focus is on the skills needs and gaps of a company, with customised packages developed to address business requirements and support business growth. 50% of the costs of agreed training could be funded, eligibility criteria applies.
To receive support, companies must employ a maximum of 249 people, be operating in a Coventry and Warwickshire LEP postcode, and be registered as a company working in. Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering including Aerospace and Rail, Health and Social Care, Logistics, Construction, Education, Culture and Tourism, Digital and Creative industries, IT services, Professional services, or Retail.
Get support now – contact Anne-Marie Tranter on 07973 260 583 or email anne-marie.tranter@coventry.gov.uk
Serco’s Skills Support for the Workforce Programme (SSW) is a valuable resource, enabling employers to train new recruits and help develop the skills that their business needs. SSW also offers training and qualifications for a business’ existing workforce.
The programme is co-financed by the Education & Skills Funding Agency and European Social Fund which means many of the courses and qualifications on offer are free. Take a look at the video below for more information.
Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce Training delivers high quality apprenticeships and training courses, designed to provide individuals and teams with the latest skills, knowledge and techniques to enable businesses to grow. Gaining nationally accredited qualifications is an integral part of modern career development giving individuals the skills and knowledge to perform effectively and efficiently in their job.
Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce Training courses are all about the workplace, providing an opportunity to gain new ideas and insights, supporting businesses to develop people and enabling individuals to develop themselves.
Need help with your CV or interview skills? The National Careers Service provides information, advice and guidance to help you make decisions about learning, training and work.
Job Centre Plus is here with information about jobs to apply for right now, and has hints and tips on applying for jobs.
The new £2 billion Kickstart Scheme will create hundreds of thousands of new, fully subsidised jobs for young people across the country.
The 6-month placements are open to those aged 16-24 who are claiming Universal Credit and at risk of long-term unemployment. They will be available across a range of different sectors in England, Scotland, and Wales. The first placements are likely to be available from November.
There will also be extra funding to support young people to build their experience and help them move into sustained employment after they have completed their Kickstart funded job.
Employers will receive funding for 100% of the relevant National Minimum Wage for 25 hours a week, plus associated employer National Insurance contributions and employer minimum auto-enrolment pension contributions.
Employers seeking 30+ job placements > Find Out More
Employers seeking 29 or fewer job placements > Find Out More
There are an abundance of inspiring
apprenticeship and training schemes across the Coventry and Warwickshire area.
Young people can take advantage of pioneering collaborations including the
Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre, MIRA Technology Institute and
the Jaguar Land Rover partnership with Warwickshire College’s Apprenticeship
Centre
Apprentices are aged 16 or over and combine working with studying to gain the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in a chosen career. Apprentices can be new or current employees and businesses may be eligible for a grant or funding to employ an apprentice. Apprentices must be paid at least the minimum wage during their placement, which can last from 1 to 4 years, depending upon the level apprenticeship standard that the apprentice is studying for, and must:
In July 2020, the Chancellor announced that from August 2020 to January 2021, any employer who hires a new apprentice, aged between 16-24, will receive a payment of £2,000. In addition, employers looking to hire new apprentices aged 25 and over will receive £1,500. This payment will be in addition to the existing £1,000 incentive payment that the government already provides for new apprentices aged between 16-18, and those aged under 25 with an Education Health Care Plan, where that applies. This can result in an employer potentially receiving up to £3,000 for hiring an apprentice aged between 16-18, during this six-month incentive scheme.
To register your interest in employing an apprentice, visit the National Apprenticeship Service
Coventry City Council will transfer its available apprenticeship levy fund to support small to medium sized non-levy-paying businesses. The funds are to support eligible employers outside of the city who employ Coventry residents.
The levy fund can be used to train new recruits or existing staff members and the City Council is keen to support as many businesses and residents of Coventry as possible.
To find out more, contact Anne-Marie Tranter, Skills & Growth Manager, Economic Development Services. T: 07973 260583 E: anne-marie.tranter@coventry.gov.uk
Warwickshire County Council - The Apprenticeship Levy Small Business Support Programme is an initiative which launched in 2019 to support small businesses in the recruiting and funding of apprenticeship training across Warwickshire.
The programme allows Warwickshire County Council to share part of its apprenticeship levy funds to invest in businesses and residents who would benefit from such support.
TRS is an independent employer led programme, originally initiated by former Secretary of State (BEIS), which is dedicated to supporting the attraction, development and retention of people and skills in UK construction, manufacturing, engineering and technology
There are a variety of organisations that can provide apprenticeships. We have listed a few below, but please visit the National Apprenticeship Service to find more.
Coventry and Warwickshire LEP Growth Hub has commissioned a new business website called FinditinCW as a means with which to communicate supply chain opportunities and connect local suppliers with buyers. Registration is free with the option to upgrade to other subscription levels.
As part of the free registration you can also ‘Post a Job’ which automatically links to Employment Solutions and advertises your vacancy.
FinditinCW focuses on delivering targeted leads and supply chain opportunities to all-sized businesses in both the private and public sector in Coventry and Warwickshire. This is done through opportunities posted on the website and at ‘Meet the Buyer’ events – both physical and virtual.
Don’t miss out on jobs available, upcoming recruitment drives, advice on CV writing, career fairs and other relevant events, plus good news stories and partner news.