We helped to reduce unemployment by providing tailored support and innovative technology solutions, connecting unemployed individuals with meaningful work and transforming recruitment practices across Scotland.
We’ve partnered with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for many years to deliver critical public services. In January 2021, we launched a new employability programme in Scotland to find and place newly unemployed people into jobs as part of DWP’s Job Entry Targeted Support (JETS) programme. The programme targeted sectors that were less affected by the pandemic and had stronger employment opportunities.
JETS: A shared purpose
JETS was established to help people who had been out of work and claiming Universal Credit or New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance for 13 weeks or more. It aimed to place job seekers not just into work, but into suitable roles based on their transferable skillsets and career ambitions. Through a combination of personal advisors, tailored IT skills training, CV development, and interview support, JETS provided job seekers with the confidence and tools needed to succeed in the job market.
A proven success: Spectrum’s recruitment journey
Through partnerships with local businesses, the programme proved to be an effective solution in tackling unemployment, providing life-changing opportunities to job seekers and helping businesses find talent.
Spectrum Service Solutions, an award-winning contract cleaning and facilities management company, has been a major beneficiary of the JETS programme. For Ryan Sutherland and Natalie Scott from the Spectrum HR team, the JETS programme has had a transformational effect. “Before, we were just going down the traditional route of recruitment,” explains Sutherland, referring to posting a job listing and waiting for the CVs to come in. “We found that wasn't working for us anymore. So, we decided to take a more proactive approach – and that’s where JETS came in.”
The JETS process was much more personal than relying on a faceless CV. Initially, candidates attended an online “speed dating” session with the hiring managers from Spectrum. This meant they could present themselves over a five-minute conversation, showing their interest in the role, regardless of their experience or employment history.
Sutherland instantly saw the benefits of this approach. “We knew the JETS team - in this case, The Lennox Partnership, had worked with and supported the candidates up to this point, so we were confident that we were being sent individuals who met our requirements.”
For Spectrum, the JETS candidates were not just focused on securing employment; they were actively developing their skills, refining their CVs and rebuilding their confidence. Natalie Scott noted, “You can see the difference with an applicant from JETS – they’re eager, motivated, and ready to excel.” The results speak for themselves, with 100% of JETS candidates hired by Spectrum excelling in their roles.
Thanks to the JETS programme, Spectrum now approaches recruitment through a much more positive perspective and their recruitment processes have changed for the better.
Key outcomes: Reducing UK unemployment through partnerships
During our partnership with DWP, we provided tailored, specialist support via our network of supply chain partners, helping jobseekers regain employment. A key element of our approach was the development of a citizen-centric service powered by Salesforce and Amazon technology. This innovative solution offered omnichannel and automated support, ensuring that jobseekers could easily access personalised guidance and the tools they needed to successfully return to work.
Our results exceeded expectations and demonstrated the value of a targeted approach to reducing unemployment. Key achievements included:
- Achieving 204% of our target for placing individuals into work.
- Helping an additional 10,000 people secure sustained employment.
- Meeting 100% compliance with our contract service standards.
Partnerships
We partnered with Salesforce and Venerate to build a “best of breed” employability platform, designed to deliver targeted support for long-term unemployed individuals. The solution was implemented in just 10 weeks, leveraging the robust capabilities of Salesforce Service Cloud, Experience Cloud and Digital Engagement. The cloud-first approach enabled seamless integration, automation and enhanced reporting, while also offering data collection and deduplication capabilities, which made Salesforce the ideal platform for our needs.
Furthermore, the platform significantly reduced manual, paper-based tasks and improved the customer and advisor experience, streamlining the process and delivering greater efficiency.
A bright future for employment in Scotland
As Helen Murray, Managing Director for Capita Health & Welfare, highlighted: “With over 10,000 individuals placed with Scottish businesses across multiple sectors, it is fair to say that JETS in Scotland has been a successful project and one that we, alongside DWP and all of our employment partners, can be very proud of.”
At Capita, our commitment to improving outcomes is at the heart of everything we do, and the success of JETS is a testament to this mission. By working together, we continue to create positive change – for individuals, businesses, and communities alike.
