Scheme launched to help newly unemployed

A new community-based project has been launched aimed at helping people who find themselves newly unemployed and require help finding work.

Skills and learning centre in Fore Street

The project seeks to improve chances of getting back to work swiftly through access to CV writing, finding jobs online and interview skills.

The Job Smart scheme is a partnership consisting of East Herts Council, Broxbourne Council, B3Living, Network Homes, the Department for Work and Pensions and the Council for Voluntary Services for Broxbourne and East Herts.

Councillor Jan Goodeve, executive member for planning and growth at East Herts Council, said: "Covid-19 is having a devastating impact on residents and families in East Hertfordshire.  Whilst government is prioritising support for those struggling to find work and younger people in terms of re-training and encouraging job placements, we feel this needs to be supplemented with lighter touch support around improving digital skills such as interviewing and selling yourself over online platforms like Zoom. 

"We have seen that a number of those who have recently lost their jobs in the district are finding themselves unemployed for the first time in their careers and would welcome this kind of help rather than going straight to the job centre. We are going to run this scheme as a pilot initially to see what kind of demand exists and whether it can make a difference"

To find out more visit the Job Smart web page.