The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) claims that with the extension of Work Trials, 46,000 jobs can be created in the UK.
Unemployment currently stands at 2.45m, while 1.64m of those have been out of work for a year. The FSB has used these figures to claim the Government isn’t doing enough to create jobs and get people back to work.
A survey panel – ‘Voice of Small Business’ – has shown that nearly a quarter (23%) of small firms think Work Trials would act as an incentive to taking on staff.
Work Trials are voluntary programmes that allow employees to try a role before taking on a permanent position within the business. The programme is only open to those who have been on Job Seeker’s Allowance for at least six months.
Before the release of employment statistics released tomorrow, the FSB is pressing the Government to make someone eligible for Work Trials on the first day of Job Seeker’s Allowance. The federation believes that this could create up to 46,000 jobs. Research shows that nearly half of all jobs beginning with a Work Trial have led to a permanent job in that business.
John Walker, national chairman of the FSB said: “Small businesses are more likely to hire people that have been in long-term unemployment, and Work Trials are a good way to get people back into work and learning skills, and for small businesses to move forward with taking on staff and growing.”
“Small firms are willing to play their part in tackling unemployment but lack confidence in their business prospects, the economy and don’t have the resources to do so,” he added.
George Archer
