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New partnerships are being forged between the REC, recruitment consultants and Jobcentre Plus as part of the package of support being offered by the Government and the private sector to help people who become unemployed.  

The partnership was marked today by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding by REC Chief Executive Kevin Green and Mel Groves, Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus at a breakfast meeting in London. The meeting was attended by Employment Minister, Tony McNulty, REC representatives and leaders of some of the UK’s largest recruitment consultancies.   

Today’s economic climate means there has never been a more important time for the public and private sectors to work together and The Memorandum of Understanding will enable the two organisations to strengthen relationships.

It will result in a more cohesive strategy for helping people back to work and employers fill their vacancies.  

As part of the agreement, REC members, including Reed Employment, Blue Arrow, Pertemps and Adecco, will work with Jobcentre Plus to provide its customers with support into employment and work with employers to give guidance on recruiting from the widest possible range of people seeking work.  

Employment Minister, Tony McNulty underlined the importance of this agreement: “The Government is committed to offering real help to people in these tough times, particularly to people who become unemployed. We aim to work across the sectors to make sure people have access to a widest range of jobs possible.  

“In the past, recruitment agencies would have seen Jobcentre Plus as a competitor, but we are all in the same business – the business of finding jobs for the unemployed, so it makes sense to join up our efforts and draw on each others expertise – which will in turn offer our customers multiple opportunities to find work.” 

Kevin Green said:  “The partnership between Jobcentre Plus and REC members offers the right support to people who are seeking work and will ensure that the full range of opportunities become  available to them. Even though the economy is heading into more difficult times the UK’s workforce has a range of skills and talents that will drive the country’s recovery and this agreement will give employers access to a larger bank of suitable candidates.” 

Jobcentre Plus and REC have agreed to work together to:  

• Help people into work by giving them the right support and the best opportunities for training and jobs;
• Promote the benefits of a diverse workforce by offering employers clear guidance and access to the widest possible range of people seeking work;
• Act as champions against discrimination and challenge unfair employment policies;
• Share expertise to create the best ways of helping people back into work;
• Give employers the support they need to help people with different circumstances move back into work;
• Deliver a professional service that will show the positive results that recruitment agencies and Jobcentre Plus achieve every day; and
• Promote the work that we are doing together that can make a difference to employers and people looking for work, such as the Diversity Pledge, Local Employment Partnerships and Integrated Employment and Skills.

Information on working with Jobcentre Plus is available at:
http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/JCP/Employers/index.html