Jobcentre on Wheels to be rolled out across Britain – this is where

Mobile Jobcentre vans are to beryllium launched crossed nan UK arsenic a measurement of "breaking down nan barriers that extremity group uncovering bully work".

Unveiling nan description pursuing a pilot, Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said nan Jobcentre connected Wheels work is designed astir "meeting group wherever they are", including unconventional locations specified arsenic extracurricular leisure centres and wrong municipal parks.

This inaugural forms portion of nan government’s wider push to betterment employment support, aiming to fulfil a manifesto promise amidst concerns complete a rising nationalist unemployment rate.

“We want to break down nan barriers that extremity group from uncovering bully work, and that intends gathering group wherever they are,” Mr McFadden said.

“Jobcentres connected Wheels are doing precisely that – bringing employment support into nan bosom of communities.

“That’s why we’re building connected nan occurrence we’ve already seen, expanding nan work truthful we tin unlock opportunities for moreover much group crossed nan country.”

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has trialled Jobcentre connected Wheels vans successful nan Scottish Highlands, North and Mid Wales and Greater Manchester.

More vehicles will subordinate nan fleet crossed six areas – successful Barrow-in-Furness, Blackpool, Wakefield, North Nottinghamshire, Bridgend and Rhondda Cynon Taf, and North Somerset.

According to DWP data, much than half of nan visitors to nan Jobcentre connected Wheels work were not successful receipt of benefits.

The Office for National Statistics estimated nan unemployment complaint for group aged 16 and complete was astatine 5.1% betwixt September and November past year, up from 4.4 per cent during nan aforesaid play successful 2024.

It comes arsenic Tesco’s UK chief, Ashwin Prasad warned past week that Britain is successful threat of “sleepwalking into an epidemic” of joblessness.

Taking purpose astatine authorities policies that summation hiring costs for employers, Mr Prasad said location had been a “clear, gradual change” complete nan past decade successful group falling retired of nan workforce.

He added that location are “far less group successful activity than location could be” and calling for important alteration from nan authorities successful really it tackles nan issue.