Client

Adecco and London Councils launch new programme to help those furthest from the labour market

Here are some key stats on the current state of the London labour market:

  • In Q4 2024, London recorded the highest unemployment rate among any UK region. (source)
  • The UK government spent approximately £66.98 billion on Universal Credit in 2024. (source)

Despite these stats, organisations across the capital say they are facing increasing talent shortages, especially within the public sector.

Jobcentres, employment organisations, and charities are also under increasing pressure to reduce unemployment and lower these costs.

So, why are unemployed jobseekers unable to fill the gaps?

London Working: Helping underrepresented jobseekers overcome barriers to employment

Working in partnership with London councils – including Newham and Barking and Dagenham – Adecco has launched a new employment programme to tackle the issue.

Jobseekers from underrepresented groups face a variety of unique challenges standing between them and employment, including:

  • Long-term Unemployed: Often forced to overcome increased isolation, outdated skills and experience, and a loss of confidence that hampers their ability to compete.
  • Parent Returners: Can struggle to get their careers back on track, with outdated workplace skills and a lack of flexible job options from employers willing to support parental duties.
  • Care Leavers: Often associated with lower education standards and often lack the professional networks, mentorship, and supportive employment programs necessary for career progression.
  • Refugees: Can encounter language barriers, non-recognition of overseas qualifications, unfamiliar employment processes, and discrimination.
  • Ex-Offenders: Often experience significant stigma and bias, resulting in prolonged unemployment and barriers to opportunities.
  • Armed Forces Veterans: Can find it challenging to transition to civilian work due to insufficient support, under-recognised military skills, and mental health difficulties.
  • Neurodiverse Individuals: Often face a lack of understanding and unintended bias from employers who do not see them as a cultural fit and won’t consider reasonable adjustments.

At Adecco, we believe we can address talent shortages and reduce the Universal Credit burden by utilising these untapped talent sources.

But to overcome barriers to employment, these groups need the proper support.

How will London Working help jobseekers?

Our five-stage programme of support will:

1. Identify participants within participating councils

2. Upskill them, including the functional and non-technical skills needed to succeed

3. Offer expert support, including CV development, learning sessions, and mock interviews

4. Provide access to employment opportunities

5. Ensure ongoing placement support, including check-ins and continued progression

To ensure an effective programme, we will:

  • Draw on Adecco’s specialist expertise, resources and infrastructure
  • Build a tailored, accessible software solution for jobseekers to access the programme
  • Connect candidates with our ecosystem of partner organisations, who offer a wide range of learning opportunities
  • Bring together a range of employers across London to offer opportunities, including priority access to selected job roles.

As well as helping to reduce the Universal Credit burden, we believe that getting underrepresented jobseekers back into work will also positively impact society by working towards creating a more diverse and representational workforce across the capital.

But to ensure the programme’s continued success, we are actively seeking additional partners.

How can you support the programme?

We welcome anyone who wants to become a partner in the programme, including council stakeholders, work coaches, hiring managers, educational institutions, charity workers, and more.

The ways you can support the programme include:

  • Referring Participants to the Programme: Participants may need support with upskilling to get them work-ready. Or they may need guidance on applying for jobs and access to more opportunities. When you refer a qualifying jobseeker to us, we will make sure they are supported where they need it most.
  • Considering Participants for Job Vacancies: Our programme represents a unique source of untapped talent that can help to overcome talent shortages. Consider giving our underrepresented jobseekers the employment opportunities they need and reap the benefits for your organisation.
  • Offering Learning Support: We welcome partners who can provide participants with access to employability workshops and similar learning opportunities.
  • Onward Referrals: We are also looking for additional partners who can provide specialist support to participants whose needs fall outside the programme’s areas of expertise. This can include financial difficulties, disability, mental health, housing, addiction and substance misuse, and childcare support.

Ready to get involved?

All our partners will receive everything they need to help promote the programme and direct jobseekers to register.

If you have any questions or would like more information, contact us today:

Emily Day
Social Value Manager
londonworking@adecco.co.uk
01782349154

If you know any jobseekers who would benefit from the programme, please direct them to our registration page.

They can also discover more about the programme by reading our candidate blog – London Working: Our new programme to help you overcome barriers to employment