Ticket to employment for Wolverhampton jobseekers

Jobseekers in Wolverhampton are being given an extra boost in their bid to get back to work thanks to a new scheme that has been launched in the city.

Centro, the region's transport authority and Wolverhampton City Council have joined forces to give local residents a ticket to employment by bringing the ' award winning WorkWise initiative to the city.

The innovative scheme helps jobseekers by offering free travel passes, transport advice and journey plans for interviews during the first three months of a new job.

The WorkWise scheme has already proved extremely successful in Birmingham, Sandwell, Solihull and Walsall, providing 6,300 passes for interviews and helping more than 5,200 people with travel costs for their new job.

Now more than £170,000 funding has been allocated in Wolverhampton's Working Neighbourhood Fund to extend the scheme to help jobseekers in the city.

The scheme has proved a great success in other areas of the West Midlands, with positive feedback from the people who have benefited from the initiative.

It has also boosted environmentally friendly, congestion busting travel, with 88 per cent of people continuing to use public transport after six months in the job while also encouraging family and friends to do the same.

Those interested in benefiting should contact Carl or Idris in the WorkWise team on 01902 427 679 or at workwisewolverhampton@centro.org.uk or make an appointment to see their Personal Adviser at their local Jobcentre Plus office for more information.

The team is currently working with a range of employment and training providers in Wolverhampton, so that WorkWise will be available at more outlets in the city.

Recent research done in Solihull has shown that WorkWise has boosted job search and retention rates in the area and provided a more positive view of public transport in the local community. More than 90 per cent of users said the scheme had made a significant impact on their life.

Users of the scheme said it gave them wider access to jobs and helped reduce money worries during their first few months back at work, while employers applauded the initiative for boosting staff availability and encouraging green and healthy travel for employees.