UK Policy

Since 1997 UK Government policy has been driven by a number of consistent themes which have been promoted and supported from within the Treasury as well as through delivery departments.

UK policy on employability since 1997 has been driven by the view that work remains the best route out of poverty for most people and that along with the right to benefits and support goes the responsibility to actively seek work.  Since the Freud report there has also been an increasing emphasis on the role of the private and voluntary sector in delivering services to economically inactive individuals and on focussing payments to providers on getting people into sustainable jobs.  It remains to be seen what impact the recession has on theses aspirations.

Key themes driving the UK policy context for employability include:

Routes out of poverty through improving participation in the labour market

Re-enforcing theview that work remains the best way out of poverty for most people

The Freud Report

Published in March 2007, this report starts from the premise that both achieving an 80% employment rate and reducing the numbers on key benefits will be difficult and require significant resources

DWP Commissioning Strategy

Central to this strategy is the ambition to develop more strategic relationships with providers; to operate on the basis of shared understanding and clarity; greater flexibility in delivery and in return greater opportunities for progression in work.

Department for Work and Pensions Localisation Agenda

This agenda sets out the concept of three levels of devolution to local communities

City Strategies

The City Strategy aims to tackle worklessness in our most disadvantaged communities across the UK – many of which are in major cities and other urban areas.