Progress to Work/LinkUp Merged Employment Support Programme

DWP Work Programme - Progress2Work

Dear Colleague

You will no doubt be aware that the Government recently announced the next steps to implement the new Work Programme and outlined the impact on existing and new contracts. As the government seeks to address the fragmentation of programmes, so that the Work Programme can function as an integrated and holistic welfare offer, they gave notice on existing Flexible New Deal contracts and also advised that the current bidding processes and procurement of services for Flexible New Deal Phase 2, Invest to Save, Personalised Employment Programme, Community Task Force and Work for Your Benefit had been ceased. Further to this it has also now been confirmed that the progress2work-LinkUP and Welfare Reform Drug Recovery Pilot will no longer go ahead.

Ministers and DWP are considering whether employment support for the customers currently supported by progress2work and progress2workLinkUP (those disadvantaged by drug and alcohol misuse, offending background and homelessness) is best provided via the Work Programme (and if so, how) or whether, given the complex needs of many of these customers, they might be better served by separate specialist provision. We will endeavour to contact you again as soon as any further information becomes available.

In the meantime you can already register your interest in working with us on the Work Programme in any of the 9 Government Office regions, Wales or Scotland as well as keeping up to date with any other opportunities in your area by accessing our website www.shaw-trust.org.uk/partners obviously, there is still a lot more detail to be worked out in the coming months during the transition to the Work Programme but we will make every effort to keep you informed throughout. If you do have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

We look forward to the future and to working with you.

Kind regards

Liz Armstrong
0777 957 1932
 

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