Government-backed REC Restart Scheme reaches milestone of 3,000 job placements
The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) and Maximus have joined forces to deliver the Restart Scheme, a nationwide initiative that has proven to be a resounding success. This partnership, established in 2022, has been particularly effective in helping long-term unemployed individuals find work, especially during the pandemic.
The Restart Scheme focuses on providing personalised coaching, practical help, and addressing individual challenges to help people get back into work. With a dedicated Employment Coach model, each participant receives tailored guidance, creating an action plan aimed at swift re-employment. The scheme also incorporates technology like online portals to support job seekers in a flexible and accessible way.
Maximus, one of the country's leading employment support specialists, has integrated health and employment support to assist vulnerable groups more holistically, making work and health part of the same conversation. This approach has helped address not just employment barriers but also health-related challenges exacerbated by the pandemic.
The success of this partnership is evident in the numbers. Maximus has supported more than 3,000 participants into work, with a significant number of placements in sectors vital to the UK's economic growth like construction and manufacturing. The REC aims to achieve 4,000 work placements by the end of 2025, a goal that seems within reach with the boost in placements in 2025, particularly in roles in warehouse, manufacturing, industrial, cleaning, and construction.
The REC's collaboration with Maximus on the Restart Scheme has won recognition, earning a Leadership in Social Innovation award from the World Employment Confederation (WEC) in 2023. The scheme has also shown positive outcomes for participants, with DWP research published in May 2024 indicating that it has helped participants achieve sustainable employment and higher life satisfaction.
This partnership showcases the value of innovative cross-sector working, and the REC has advocated for more public and private partnerships to increase employment. The government's goal is to reach an 80% employment target, and the REC's partnership with Maximus on the Restart Scheme is a program to learn from.
Recruiters in Leeds and London have been particularly successful in making Restart placements this year, demonstrating the scheme's impact on a local level. The Restart Scheme provides tailored support to participants above what is available through JobCentre Plus, making it a valuable resource for long-term unemployed individuals.
Gary Spann, Employer Services Director at Maximus, stated that the partnership has successfully supported thousands of jobseekers to find work. The REC's partnership with Maximus on the Restart Scheme is a program that continues to deliver the government's Restart Scheme, which helps long-term unemployed people find work, especially those impacted by the pandemic. The scheme operates at no cost to its members and the candidates, targeting funding from within its partnership with Maximus.
In conclusion, the REC's collaboration with Maximus on the Restart Scheme has had a meaningful impact on reducing long-term unemployment by combining personalised, practical support with a holistic approach that considers health and social needs, helping many disadvantaged workers re-enter the labour market particularly during the pandemic disruption.
The Restart Scheme, a joint initiative by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) and Maximus, focuses on equipping long-term unemployed individuals with personalized coaching and practical help to help them find employment in various sectors, including construction and manufacturing, thus positively impacting the business and finance landscape.
Maximus, working alongside the REC, has secured over 3,000 work placements since the launch of the Restart Scheme, effectively integrating health and employment support to assist vulnerable groups and achieving significant success in the UK's economic growth.
