Welcome to WorkWise

What is WorkWise?

WorkWise helps unemployed people access interviews and jobs by overcoming transport barriers to employment.

Who can access WorkWise?

WorkWise customer ticketing support is currently available in Coventry, North Solihull, Sandwell and Walsall, and is aimed at unemployed people living within specific postcode areas. To find out if you are eligible, please click on the link below that covers the area where you live.

WorkWise Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) service is aimed at Advisers in Jobcentre Plus and other providers of employment and training services within the West Midlands area.

To find out more about this service please click here.

What does WorkWise provide?

Journey planning

Many people find reading timetables and planning routes for travelling to interviews and jobs very confusing. WorkWise can provide an illustrated step-by-step guide on the best way for you to travel from home to your destination and back. This helps you to broaden your job search by increasing your awareness of existing local public transport services near you.

If you are eligible for WorkWise customer ticketing support, you can receive:

• One-day travel passes for job interviews.
• Monthly travel passes for your new job.

Passes are available for train, bus and tram, depending on where you need to travel to work. They are valid throughout the West Midlands including Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton.

Travel passes

If you are eligible for WorkWise, you can receive

One-day travel passes for job interviews.

Monthly travel passes for your new job.

Passes are available for train, bus and tram, depending on where you need to travel to work. They are valid throughout the West Midlands including Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton.

Birmingham: This service closed in March 2011.

Coventry: This covers the whole of Coventry.

Dudley: This service closed in March 2011.

North Solihull: This covers the North Solihull wards of Chelmsley Wood, Smiths Wood and Kingshurst & Fordbridge.

Sandwell: This covers the whole of Sandwell.

Walsall: This service covers the whole of Walsall. 

Wolverhampton: This service closed in March 2011.

The Development of WorkWise 

Starting as a small project in Nottingham, in 2003 WorkWise pilots were successfully developed and implemented in Birmingham and North Solihull.The proven success of these pilots led to the expansion of WorkWise across the Black Country and Coventry. Past and present funders include Advantage West Midlands (EBNS Regeneration Zone), Centro, Birmingham City Council, European Social Fund, European Regional Development Fund, JobCentre Plus, Sandwell MBC, Solihull MBC, Walsall MBC and Wolverhampton City Council.

Achievements

WorkWise helps to overcome very real transport barriers experienced by people seeking employment. It has been a tremendous success, with achievements recognised both locally and nationally e.g. the 2007 Guardian Public Services award for Service Delivery (Transport category) and the National Transport Award (Accessibility Category).

A report by Social Exclusion Unit (Office of Deputy Prime Minister) "Making the Connections" cited WorkWise as best practice in 2004. These achievements are a result of the successful partnership approach favoured by Centro, the commitment of our partners and the significant success of the project to date. WorkWise is seen as a valuable asset, not only to the individuals assisted by the scheme but also to local communities and employers.

To date over 8,000 one-day passes have been provided to assist eligible individuals with travel to interviews and over 10,500 people helped into new jobs.

Current Funding

Due to funding constraints, WorkWise in Birmingham, Dudley and Wolverhampton are unfortunately no longer available to clients. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause you. However WorkWise schemes in North Solihull, Coventry, Sandwell and Walsall are still providing essential travel support.

For general enquiries about the WorkWise initiative please contact Rachel Hooper, WorkWise Team Leader (tel: 0121 214 7512 rachelhooper@centro.org.uk)

We use Language Line, a telephone interpretation service.