Flexible New Deal (FND) is a fundamental part of the Government’s welfare reform plans and will replace the current New Deal 18–24 and 25+ and Employment Zone programmes. The programme, which supports people who have been unemployed for more than 12 months, is being introduced in all Jobcentre Plus districts in two phases, starting on 5 October 2009. Prime contractor organisations from the private, public and third sectors are working in partnership to deliver this new programme and Ingeus is a prime contractor in two large areas:
- Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire
- Edinburgh, Lothian and Borders, Lanarkshire and East Dunbartonshire, Ayrshire, Dumfries, Galloway and Inverclyde.
We are delivering Flexible New Deal in close partnership with Jobcentre Plus and a network of subcontractors from the private and voluntary sectors in both areas.
These include organisations that will deliver the programme on our behalf and other organisations that will deliver specific elements of our programme in certain areas. Intraining will deliver FND in Leicestershire and the Papworth Trust will deliver the programme in parts of Northamptonshire. In Scotland, Triage and Life Skills will both deliver the service on our behalf in parts of the contract area. Each of these organisations complements our approach and the services we provide. We are delighted to be working in partnership with these organisations and each one has been selected for their experience and commitment to delivering services of the highest quality.
We expect to support over 32,000 people per year over the course of the five-year contracts and have set up new delivery sites and increased staff numbers in both areas to give our clients, employers and partners a high-quality, flexible new service. Each client will start the programme at a different point – they may be ready to work immediately, or may need assistance to overcome constraints to working. Others may require some targeted training or just want to start their own business.
Our aim is always to support clients to find jobs that last, which we achieve by delivering a personalised service to each client we work with, based on their individual situation and needs. We welcome Flexible New Deal’s focus on sustainable employment and progression within employment and look forward to assisting many thousands of people to find the right job for the long term.
Find out more about Flexible New Deal if you are looking for work.
In England, this programme is match-funded by the European Social Fund.