The Ways to Work project is delivered across the Liverpool City Region including Halton and is co-funded by the European Social Fund and Youth Employment Initiative.
Resident Ways to Work information
The Ways to Work project is designed to help Runcorn and Widnes residents, of any age over 16 years old, get the support they need to secure education, training or employment. Built on the skills and experience of the Halton People into Jobs team the project provides support for Halton residents such as:
- Access to jobs/apprenticeships
- 6 -12 month paid work placements
- Employability skills – CV creation, Job Searches, Application Forms and Interview Preparation
- Coaching and mentoring support for 16-18 year olds
- Improving your basic skills
- Ongoing support when you start work
- Funding to help you get back into work (subject to eligibility criteria)
Ways to Work Advisors are trained and experienced in helping residents get the support needed to help build a more secure future. All support is tailored to meet the needs of the individual, so it is only after discussing your needs with you that an action plan is put into place.
Who are we looking for?
As long as you are a Halton resident over 16 years old, not in full time education and not currently self -employed or in employment, and able to work in the UK you are eligible to register. There are no other criteria. Some of the residents we are helping include:
- People stuck in a cycle of low reward service industry jobs who want to try and get some relevant experience elsewhere
- Residents that have found that when the children leave home they need something else to do
- Former family member carers who have given so much and now find themselves out of ‘step’ with the employment market
- Victims of redundancy
- The over 50s looking for fresh experiences or looking for an little extra financial security
- Young residents looking to build a better future
All it takes is one email to set up an appointment: w2wreferrals@halton.gov.uk
Information for Businesses about Ways to Work
One of the key elements of the Ways to Work that differentiates it from other projects is the ability to fund work placements of 6 or 12 months called ‘Intermediate Labour Market placements (ILMs). These ILMs exist to give employment opportunities to Halton residents that are on the Ways to Work programme and are funded by the Ways to Work project. This means Ways to Work will pay the national minimum wage (age dependent) rate and employer NI/Pension contributions for the duration of the ILM placement. The eligibility requirements are as follows:
- SME (max 250 full time employees)
- Annual turnover less than €50 million or balance sheet not exceeding €43 million
- received less than €200,000 in State Aid over the last three years
- Company/organisation belongs to an identified business growth area and/or community benefit
- Must not displace any existing roles
- Minimum of 35 hrs per week (some part time placements available)
- Company/Organisation preferably based in Halton
- Commitment to continue employment after initial ILM placement
The ILM placement must be additional to your current staffing needs. Ideally the placement would lead to permanent employment at the end of the placement but it is understood that this is not always possible. The ILMs provide work experience for the participating Halton resident as a means of helping overcome barriers they may face to securing employment. Sometimes a resident needs an organisation to take a chance on them and having their wages paid means that ILM placements are low risk for the host organisation.
How does it work for the business?
To register as a potential ILM host an organisation must complete an ‘Expression of Interest’ form (EOI) and provide evidence of insurance and policies such as equal opportunities. The EOI is then reviewed and either accepted or returned with queries.
Once accepted an organisation completes a vacancy template. The template is circulated amongst clients registered on Ways to Work. A selection of candidates are put forward to the organisation who are then solely responsible for the interview/hiring process.
Once a Ways to Work client has been identified a start date agreed and then the ILM paperwork is completed. The successful client essentially becomes an employee of the business/organisation. Wages are claimed in arrears upon the provision of evidence such as completed timesheets and wage slips. The claims continue until the ILM placement finishes. There can be more than one ILM placement at a time.
Most placements are 6 months in duration. 12-month placements only exist if it is deemed that the participant requires a longer placement to overcome certain barriers they may face.
For more information, please email: ILMS@halton.gov.uk
