A NEW scheme to help thousands of people in Swindon, Wiltshire and the south west has begun.

The government awarded employment and health specialist Seetec Pluss a contract to deliver the Restart Scheme, which will support more than 100,000 people across the region over the next four years.

Executive director of employability and health at Seetec, Chris Harrison, said: “The last year has had an unprecedented impact on the jobs market, leaving many people who have lost their jobs or been unable to take their first steps into work feeling vulnerable and anxious about the future.

“The Restart Scheme will play a fundamental part in the nation’s recovery, helping local people, their families and communities rebuild the security that makes a difference.”

The scheme is funded by the Department for Work and Pensions and will help people who have been out of work and claiming Universal Credit for at least 12 months to build their confidence and skills and find work.

It is part of the government’s wider Plan for Jobs to help social and economic recovery after the pandemic, with the Restart Scheme expected to support more than a million people across the country on their return to employment.

The scheme will provide up to a year of support for each participant, with dedicated employment advisors working closely alongside them to get to know their aspirations and strengths.

Seetec’s advisors will help people develop a package of support which includes access to training and qualifications to helping with CVs, interview skills and job searching. Once the client secures a job, their advisor will provide in-work support to help them adapt.

It will help young people and education leavers looking to launch their careers, as well as those seeking to reskill or change career and those trying to return to sectors that have been impacted by Covid-19.

Support will include regular one-to-one coaching, pro-active job search and immediate digital support for anyone who needs to build their digital skills to engage with online job searching.

Seetec Pluss’ employer services team wil build on their relationships with over 11,000 employer partners across key sectors, to help secure employment opportunities for participants.

Mr Harrison added, “This is all about collaborating with our expert supply chain partners, key stakeholders and employers to ensure as we recover from the pandemic, no-one is left behind. We will draw on our combined regional experience, and passion to offer high quality services and help more people overcome barriers, including support with debt, digital connectivity to help progression into meaningful and sustainable employment.”

Call 0800 334 5525, email customer.admin@seetecpluss.co.uk or visit www.seetecpluss.co.uk