§ Mr. WilshireTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what resources are made available to New Deal advisers to provide practical advice to members of the public on the New Deal programme who are not graduates, who wish to acquire additional skills to pursue careers which require graduate level entry. [154341]
§ Mr. BrowneThe primary aim of New Deal is to help people into employment as soon as possible. The advice given to non-graduate New Deal participants wishing to pursue careers requiring graduate entry level qualifications could depend on a range of factors including the person's existing qualifications, their financial situation, the availability of the training required, and the entry criteria for specific courses.
New Deal advisers have knowledge of the local labour market and access to a range of resources to assist them in providing appropriate advice and guidance to all New Deal participants. Resources used by advisers include: careers publications, access to the internet, links with training providers and local colleges as well as Connexions/Careers Service. Someone without the relevant qualifications to start a degree or diploma course could, for example be referred to an Access Course, which can be funded under New Deal. People interested in further or higher education would also be given advice on sources of funding such as Career Development Loans, and referred to relevant educational bodies for more detailed advice on course funding.
§ Mr. WilshireTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what procedures are followed to ensure that training programmes and allied support within the New Deal are tailored to an individual's requirements; [154342]
(2) if he will make it his policy to ensure that individuals are not placed on New Deal training courses that provide guidance and advice on skills the person has already acquired. [154343]
§ Mr. BrowneThe New Deal is primarily a 'jobs first' programme and its success is measured through the number of people helped into work; so far nearly one million people have been helped into employment through New Deal.
Training programmes, and other support available through New Deal, are intended to equip people with the skills needed to compete effectively in the local 316W labour market. Effort is made to tailor courses and other support to meet individuals' requirements but this has to be balanced against the recruitment and skills needs of local employers and the likelihood of the training improving employment prospects. In circumstances where the needs of an individual cannot be met through normal contracts with training providers, one-off courses or training provision can be purchased if this is likely to improve the person's chances of getting quickly into work.
It is not the intention of New Deal to place people on training courses that provide them with skills they already have. However, participants on the mandatory New Deal programmes may be expected to attend courses to help address their barriers to work, for example, a two-week Gateway to Work course, which provides jobsearch and motivational support.