National Careers Service
National Careers Service can help you to recruit and support staff to progress in the workplace, as well as offer free, impartial and personalised careers advice to individuals.
The National Career Service can work alongside your business to develop skills specific workshops to help attract potential candidates. The content can be tailored to give an understanding of the vacancies, business, sector, labour market information and support candidates applying for your vacancies.
Next steps
Contact National Careers Service on 0800 100 900 or email nationalcareersservice@educationdevelopmenttrust.com
Job Centre Plus
Your local jobcentre can offer a range of support if you’re looking to recruit, including:
- Advertise vacancies on Find A Job – Register on gov.uk/advertise-job
- Issue and collate CVs or application forms
- Screen and match applicants to your job specification
- Arrange interviews
- Use of city centre interview facilities
- Arrange for you to attend Jobcentre meetings to promote your vacancies
SWAPs (Sector Based Work Academy Programme) – pre-employment training courses, tailored to your recruitment needs. At no added cost to yourself. The only proviso is that all course completers are given a guaranteed job interview.
Work trials: if you are not sure whether someone is right for a particular role, you could offer a limited work trial.
Access to work – grants for individuals with a disability or long-term health condition to help them do their job.
Other DWP funded provision that can link you with local people looking for work:
Restart –The programme provides Universal Credit claimants with enhanced support to find jobs in their local area, including work relevant certificates, training and support with CVs and interviews. For further information
https://reedinpartnership.co.uk/services/recruitment-support/
To get in contact with your local office Reed in Partnership office please contact us on 0122 237 90677 or visit reedinpartnership.co.uk
Ingeus
The focus of the CFO3 project is to help offenders turn their back on crime and benefit from targeted support in training and job search provided by a case worker. For example, a 46 year old participant had spent his whole life in and out of custody as a result of crimes committed to fund a drug habit. As a result of support from the programme including goal setting, engaging with local drug & alcohol service, completing his Level 1 H&S in a Construction Environment & CSCS card and improving his job search, application and interview skills; he was offered a 4 week contract as a labourer with a local agency. This would be his first formal job in years. The project continued to support the participant and after 4 weeks on site, the site manager offered him a permanent, full time contract. He said: “this is the longest time in my life I haven’t used drugs and I can now see a clear future in the construction industry”
Ingeus ‘Inclusive Recruit’
As part of the support, employers can also benefit from Inclusive Recruit – a free service to help identify and prepare candidates for your vacancies.
Learn more by clicking here or contact Andrea Berkley at ABerckley@ingeus.co.uk
Employers Forum for Reducing Re-offending
We also work with business throughout the UK as part of an innovative employer engagement programme, designed to improve the recruitment practices of employers and the job prospects of offenders.
The Employers’ Forum for Reducing Re-offending (EFFRR) is a HMPPS-led initiative chaired by Greggs Retail and Ingeus People Director, Roisin Currie. It is a collective of local and national employers that provide training and employment opportunities for offenders, including Greene King, Timpson, Marks & Spencer, Willmott Dixon and many more
Our overall aim of the forum is to encourage more businesses to consider adapting their recruitment practises to support more returning citizens into employment, therefore reducing the impact of re-offending on our communities. It’s strength comes from the ability to attract like-minded businesses who support the re-employment of returning citizens. To join EFFRR or for more information please contact us or email effrr@apm-uk.co.uk.
New Futures Network
The New Futures Network (NFN) is a specialist part of Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), helping businesses fill skills gaps and prison leavers find employment. The Network can support you directly or link you with local organisations that can support you to explore what employing a prison leaver can bring to your business.
Click here for case studies from businesses who have benefitted from the Network.
For more information, visit their website.
Careers Enterprise Company
Work with us to connect to your future workforce.
Through our York & North Yorkshire Careers Hub and Careers Enterprise Company project we can connect you with young people who have the potential to become part of the future of your business. We can support your business to engage with your local schools and colleges.
If you are an employer who is looking for a dynamic way to connect with young people, then get in touch.
How does it benefit your business?
- Bring new skills and expertise to your business.
- Develop your corporate social responsibility to include an emphasis on education or provide more focus and structure to your recruitment strategy.
- Boost business and employee moral by making a real difference to the lives of young people through mentoring schemes, work placements and structured projects.
For more information on these work-ready programmes, get in touch and we’ll connect you to the expertise and resources you need.
Articles
Kick Off In Business: Fully Funded Opportunity
Online business start-up & self-employment courses funded by York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Adult Skills Fund, providing straightforward, practical information and guidance for anyone who is in the process of setting up a business or simply exploring the idea.
Carbon Literacy Training for SMEs
Curious what Carbon Literacy could do for your organisation? You’ll meet our friendly Carbon Literacy Facilitator, Ali Fisher, and get a taste of how this practical training can help your business cut costs, attract and retain great people, and stand out in bids, tenders and investment conversations.
Strive Live Start-Up Incubator: March
If you are currently running or looking to launch a start-up based in York & North Yorkshire, join this award-winning incubator designed to help grassroots entrepreneurs launch their business. Strive Live blends weekly live online training with regular one-to-one advice and on-demand online learning to make it simple and exciting to start a business. Plus, you could win up to £2,500 in micro grants at the end of the programme.
Events
03rd March 202611:00 am - 1:00 pmFREE
Online Workshops: Digital Marketing Success Series (Intermediate)
Join our Digital Marketing Success Series designed especially for small business owners who want to grow online, even if you don’t consider yourself “tech-savvy.” This weekly workshop series will guide you through the basics of digital marketing and on to more advanced strategies – all at your pace.
Resources
Communications for Small Businesses Series: Webinar Recordings
This webinar series will guide you through the steps needed to embrace communications for your business, in an authentic and impactful way.
Webinar Series: Set Up for Success with Google Business Tools
This series explores the free tools available from Google to help small businesses increase their online presence. Plus, you’ll learn how to leverage Google’s paid advertising platform for scalable growth without feeling like you are just wasting money. Participants will leave feeling confident to start using Google Tools to Improve their visibility, generate leads and make more sales online.
Webinar Recording: PR for Small Businesses
Want to get your business featured in newspapers and magazines in 2026? In this webinar, Jo and Linda explain why you should be prioritising PR – including reaching a new audience (outside your social media bubble), building trust and credibility, and boosting your sales and SEO.