JobsPlus Pilot Scheme Boosts Employment in Stockton-on-Tees
Stockton-on-Tees is hosting one of ten national JobsPlus pilots, a hyperlocal employment scheme backed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The initiative, overseen by the Learning and Work Institute, began in summer 2024 and has since attracted more than 1,000 participants, with over 270 securing work.
Sessions in Stockton take place at the Newtown Resource Centre, complemented by weekly meetings of community champions held at Nancy's Diner. Caseworkers provide tailored support including CV assistance, interview preparation, and financial help. Participants who maintain paid employment for eight weeks receive a £400 bonus designed to ease their transition from benefits to work.
Notable beneficiaries include Bryan Stokell, who secured a full-time security job and became a community champion himself; Yaw Botwe, who obtained a position at Morrisons with the provision of a bike; Megan Steel, who found work in a casino after receiving CV and interview assistance; and Jacquie Brown Fowler, who works as a cleaner and lunch-time supervisor equipped with a food hygiene qualification.
The scheme particularly targets social housing areas such as the Primrose Hill and Newtown estates, aiming to bolster social capital through trusted local connections. The JobsPlus model originated in the United States in 1998, with long-term analyses demonstrating positive earnings effects across generations in cities like Dayton, Los Angeles, and St. Paul.
Funding for the scheme includes approximately £2 million from the DWP alongside co-funding from the Youth Futures Foundation. However, government funding is scheduled to end in March of next year.
