[To receive a presentation in relation to the Workbox]

The Chair welcomed Joanna Grocott, Project Manager and Angela McKeever, Head of Skills to the meeting.

Officers stated that the approach was important regarding helping people back into work and providing them with necessary skills. The Council needed to simplify and improve access for residents and businesses. The action plan contained three key areas and tools for residents and staff to enable more engagement with clients and those with low skills.

The Panel received a presentation in relation to the Wolverhampton Workbox. Officers stated that the Workbox represented a virtual front door that provided a one city, one brand, one offer base for clients. The scheme had been recognised as good practice by OFSTED.

The Workbox would help to address the skills gap in the City by supporting residents’ needs to access basic skills and match them against local provision and job opportunities along with local media tools. It was a tool that would help people to think and act differently regarding accessing skills, training and job opportunities.

Interest had already been shown by some over fifty organisations and the scheme had been showcased at the One City Event where feedback had also been received from over 90 parties.

The Workbox was currently being tested and a demonstration was provided to the Panel. The Council was currently working with providers to include videos advertising the Workbox on their websites. As the programme developed further it was intended to include more information on how the Council could act as a facilitator to broker services between businesses and providers and to track progress in relation to this.

The Panel thanked officers for the presentation and demonstration and stated that the success of the project would be very dependent on getting people to actually look at the website in the first instance. Officers stated that a lot of publicity would be carried out through social media and that there were 12 to 14 computer spaces in the hub that were never empty for people who were unable to access the internet at home. Additional support and publicity for the service would also be provided by hard publicity including through the voluntary sector and Wolverhampton homes. Officers stated that possible clients would also be approached through front line staff and be included in contracts with the voluntary and community services.

The Panel queried whether signing onto the Workbox website would count towards the DWP job search requirement. Officers confirmed that this would count and would help to provide a consistent approach.

The Panel considered that the Workbox was a very good tool for helping job seekers or low skilled adults or late learners but queried whether the Council was also approaching issues from the start and addressing problems at under performing schools and poor education both at school and in the home.

The Panel questioned what would make people want to use the Workbox. Officers stated that the Workbox was not a fix all solution but one of a number of tools and approaches that the Council and the Director of Education were adopting. There was concern about high levels of youth unemployment and unemployment in the 50 plus age group and the workbox would resonate with some people in these groups but not all.

It was stated that the job density in the City was good but that it was often the case that the available jobs did not go to local residents.

The Panel requested that an update be brought back to the Panel once the Workbox had been launched with information on the uptake of the service and statistics on the use of the website.

The Panel queried how the Workbox would address groups such as those who had suddenly lost their jobs and were now un-expectantly back on the market.  Officers stated that this issue would be address in the next item on the agenda which included information on the DWP.

The Panel considered that the Workbox represented a good model and could give youngsters the required tools but it was still dependent on the passion, drive and interest of those involved and those it was trying to reach to avoid a high dropout rate. Officers stated that this was the reason it was so important to find a good match between the client and the provider or employer. Officers stated that this would be enhanced by the use of a single CRM system working behind the Workbox that could track the journey of those using the system for at least 6 months and that this would help to target services to individuals.

The Panel queried how it was planned to approach areas such as depression and mental health concerns. Officers stated that there was a Mind at Work programme and that the Combined Authority was helping to design a health at work programme which would run alongside this. Officers stated that the voluntary services would also play a part in this and support would be provided where necessary for those on an individual placement.

Members queried what sort of companies were being targeted for the initiative and Officers stated that this was being driven by sectors including retail, health and social care, construction, engineering and manufacturing. It was also considered that the Council needed to have a good understanding of business needs and ensure that the service was tailored for individuals.

Officers stated that the service was due to be launched to businesses the next day through Wolves at Work and that ERDF funding would allow the Council to focus on SMEs and carry out diagnostics of business requirements and needs and connect these with the skills agenda.

Resolved:      (a)       That the presentation be noted.

(b)       That an update on the uptake of the service and statistics relating to the use of the internet site be provided to a future meeting.