MORE than 160,000 Brits who have lost their job thanks to the Covid crisis will get a new bumper package of support with boosting their CV and prepping for interviews.
A new digital back to work scheme will give job-seekers four hour-long sessions with a dedicated specialist coach to anyone newly on benefits to help get them back in the workplace as soon as possible.
Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates
The £10million scheme, first announced by the Chancellor last year, will target people who already have skills to get them back into a good job, but may need help with applications, interviews, CVs, or finding positions.
More than 160,000 Brits are set to benefit from the flagship scheme over the next 12 months – with 300 advisers ready to start.
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Therese Coffey hailed the new scheme today, saying: “Job Finding Support will help jobseekers brush up on interview skills and advice, giving them a helping hand to move back into work quickly.
“Our Plan for Jobs is helping us build back better and fairer, getting job support to people who need it right across Britain and levelling up opportunity.”
Ministers at the DWP have already hired recruited 8,500 new Work Coaches to spearhead efforts to get Britain working again following the devastating impact of the pandemic.
The most recent unemployment rate – for September to November – was 5.0 per cent, the ONS has said, meaning 1.7million people are out of work.
At least 200,000 people have lost their jobs as a result of the pandemic, the latest figures showed.
But millions of people are still on furlough – which has been extended now until the end of March.
Rishi Sunak will give his next Budget on March 3, where he will set out his financial plans for the next year.
It’s likely that an announcement is also on the way about the £20 a week Universal Credit uplift.
Ministers haven’t confirmed whether the extra cash – worth more than £1000 a year for people on the six-in-one benefit – will continue past March.
Trending In The News understands it’s likely that the PM will likely extend the basis temporarily before allowing it to taper off later in the year, once the economy starts to get back on its feet again.
