Latest News

In this section you will find key news about the welfare to work and adult training and skills sector, from local delivery and national policy level and all things around about and in between (also see archive at the bottom of this page). 

We would welcome your ideas for news stories as well as contributions from other organisations, so if you want to contribute please complete our Contact Us form.

Stephen Duckworth on PIP

6 March 2013

Really great artcile in the Guardian from Stephen Duckworth (ex Serco Welfare Services) who is now head of Capita's Personal Independence Payments. Click here to visit the Guardian website for the ful… More…

DWP Management of Medical Services Criticised

8 February 2013

Following all of the recent press attention with ATOS and the Work Capability Assessment, The Public Select Committee has published its report, the Department for Work and Pensions: Contract managemen… More…

Work Programme Pilots - Recovering Addicts

1 February 2013

Iain Duncan Smith MP has announced two pilot programmes that will form part of the Work Programme targeted at helping people with drug and alcohol problems back into work. The payment by results pilo… More…

BBC Panorama - Pluss Response

30 January 2013

We have received an email to day from Pluss, which is their response to Monday's Panorama programme. It was such an impassioned communicae that we thought we would share it in full with our readers: … More…

PCS Concerns re Universal Jobmatch

21 January 2013

The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) has released an update on the queries and concerns received from its members regarding the use of Universal Jobmatch. The update highlights the issue re… More…

Youth Contract Extended

17 January 2013

The Department for Education has extended eligibility criteria for the Youth Contract, enabling an extra 15,500 16- and 17-year-olds to receive support to move into work with training, school or colle… More…

Employers Encouraged to Support Youth Contract

14 January 2013

Minister for Employment, Mark Hoban, has launched a Youth Contract: Works for me advertising drive on local radio stations in a bid to raise awareness of the Youth Contract. He is urging businesses t… More…

Traineeships on the Agenda

11 January 2013

Skills Minister Matthew Hancock has launched a discussion paper regarding the much talked about new Traineeship programme. The Traineeships aim to provide 16-24 years olds with an individual package … More…

Transforming Rehabilitation Consultation

10 January 2013

The Ministry of Justice has released a consultation in Transforming Rehabilitation. The overall aim is to privatise 75% of the work of Probation Trusts on a payment by results basis, with the Trusts r… More…

Third Sector Future Challenges

3 January 2013

ACEVO (the third sector leaders' body) is launching an inquiry to examine and address the challenges that third sector Work Programme providers of all sizes and specialisms are likely to face over the… More…