Information, Advice and Guidance Partners

In April 2006 the Sector Skills Service was recognised by Jobcentre Plus in Hampshire & IOW. JCP entered into a service level agreement with the Sector Skills Service so all JCP Advisers can refer people to the Sector Skills Service.

Through JCP Adviser referrals clients are offered more comprehensive information on various sectors of industry. Other benefits include work experience opportunities and qualifications. The Sector Skills Service can be used by everyone, regardless of benefit status, and is immediately available to people whether they have only been registered with JCP for one day or have been long term unemployed. JCP Advisers can also refer people returning to work after illness, single parents, and employed people.

The Sector Skills Service are based within the below listed Jobcentre Plus offices:

• Havant JCP every Monday from 9.30 am till 4.00 pm
• Portsmouth North JCP every Tuesday from 9.30 am till 4.00 pm
• Portsmouth Central JCP every Thursday from 9.30 am till 4.00 pm
• Cosham JCP alternate Tuesdays from 9.30 am till 4.00 pm (please check at JCP for dates)
• Fareham JCP alternate Tuesdays from 9.30 am till 4.00 pm (please check at JCP for dates)
• Gosport JCP by arrangement (please check at JCP for dates)
  
• Petersfield JCP by arrangement (please check at JCP for dates)

At all other times and at all JCP office throughout Hampshire a JCP Adviser will be pleased to refer you to one of our Advisors or you can telephone 0845 644 1312.

www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk

In April 2007 the Sector Skills Service partnered with right4staff Limited to allow them to offer an IAG service to their customers.

This partnership allows for the roll-out of the IAG service throughout 2007/08. The commencement of the service will be from the right4staff Portsmouth Branch and then subsequently in the Hampshire branches of Southampton, Eastleigh, Farnborough, Basingstoke and Andover.

The right4staff Group provide temporary, contract and permanent recruitment, staffing and workforce management services to a wide range of local and national clients of all sizes. The right4staff Group are one of the top 5 independent businesses operating in the UK market and have achieved consistent growth for the past 7 years. With over 75 branches and locations, the Group places an average of 7,500 temporary and permanent staff into work nationwide each week across all market sectors.

The Government commissioned Leitch Review of Skills was published on 5th December 2006. The Review states that the UK must urgently raise achievements at all levels of skills and recommends that it commit to becoming a world leader in skills by 2020. Lord Leitch said that responsibility for achieving these ambitions must be shared between Government, employers, businesses and individuals.

Both the Sector Skills Service and right4staff Limited agree with the reports findings, that one of the main priorities to improving skills and moving people into employment is to ensure people receive good information, advice and guidance (IAG). It is a fact that right4staff cannot always find employment for the people who contact them as many do not have the suitable qualifications required for positions or in some cases they require a CV. The IAG service can offer information, advice and guidance on training possibilities, CV's and how best people can improve their chances of being re-considered for potential job opportunities.

The Sector Skills Service and the right4staff Group are committed to this IAG initiative as part of the Governments objective to raise achievements at all levels of skills.

www.right4staff.com

In May 2006 the Sector Skills Service reached agreement with VT Careers Management Southern, part of VT Group plc, to provide the impartial NEXTSTEP service as a part of the Sector Skills Service. Nextstep is a National IAG service funded by the Learning Skills Council. Under the agreement VT Careers Management Southern now part fund the Sector Skills Service.

VT Careers Management Southern, part of VT Group plc