Helping Beaumont estate residents into work through Jobs Plus pilot

Recently we hosted Calvin Bailey, MP for Leyton and Wanstead, and Howard Dawber, Deputy Mayor of London for Business and Growth, at the Beaumont estate in Waltham Forest, east London.

They joined us at the Seddon community centre for an update on the performance of the Jobs Plus pilot since its launch in the autumn of last year. Job Plus is a national programme funded by the Department for Work and Pensions to help local people into work.

It's a community-led employment scheme originally developed in the US and adopted by the UK government. Evidence from the US indicates that people who sign up for Jobs Plus are more likely to find and stay in work.

Our involvement in the pilot will enable us to provide dedicated employment advice and support for Beaumont estate residents.

We currently have 22 local residents enrolled in the programme and three local people have already secured jobs in a just short space of time.

We also have a resident on the estate acting as a ‘community champion’, advocating for the programme with neighbours and advising us on how to engage the local community.

Our Waltham Forest initiative is one of just ten pilot sites in the country. So far, it’s the only one working in partnership with the local authority – Waltham Forest Council.

Matt Bayliss, Head of L&Q's Foundation, North, said:

“Jobs Plus provides accessible employment support and advice that is uniquely tailored to individual needs. It complements our place-based approach to community investment and enables us to boost the skills, confidence and employability of Beaumont estate residents. Feedback from participants has been overwhelmingly positive and we’re looking forward to extending the reach of the programme in the coming months.”

If you're looking for work, our employment support service offers a range of options.

You can also learn more about Jobs Plus (PDF).