Biggest Employment Reforms in a Generation Unveiled to Get Britain Working again

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has published the Get Britain Working White Paper introducing the biggest reforms to employment support for a generation.

Backed by £240 million of investment, this White Paper sets out to target and tackle the root causes of unemployment and inactivity, and better join up health skills and employment support based on the unique needs of local communities.  

That includes tackling ill health as the biggest driver of inactivity by fixing the NHS. For example, by deploying extra staff to cut waiting lists in areas of high inactivity, expanding access to mental health support, and providing a greater focus on prevention to stop people becoming ill in the first place.

The outdated Jobcentre system is planned to be transformed into a new national jobs and careers service, focused on people’s skills and careers instead of just monitoring and managing benefit claims. Mayors and councils will be empowered to join up local work, health and skills support in ways that meet the specific needs of their local areas.

The Government is also announcing a new Youth Guarantee so every young person has access to education or training to help them find a job and transforming the Apprenticeship Levy in England into a more flexible Growth and Skills Levy backed by £40 million to expand opportunities for young people to develop skills and get into work.

An independent review will also be launched into how employers can be better supported to employ people with disabilities or health conditions, and to keep them in the workplace, ensuring that more people can benefit from a sense of dignity, purpose and financial independence.

The driving purpose behind this new approach is to enable everyone to have the opportunity of secure, rewarding and fulfilling work.