Government skills training scheme expanded to help 100,000 people into work

The Government has expanded the Sector-Based Work Academy Programme (SWAPs), a workplace training scheme aimed at helping thousands of employers and individuals looking for work.

This will mean surpassing the scheme’s previous target of 80,000 and offering new opportunities in some of the country’s most deprived communities.

Minister for Employment Alison McGovern will confirm the expansion of SWAPs to provide 100,000 more places available over the next financial year, a boost of over a quarter from this year. 

SWAPs offers participants in England and Scotland who are receiving certain benefits the opportunity of training towards a job in a particular industry, alongside a work placement and a guaranteed interview.

More than 63,000 people have joined the SWAPs programme to help them find employment in the last year alone. 

The expansion came as research showed that in the two years after finishing a SWAP, participants stayed in their jobs on average up to three months longer, earned up to £1,400 more, and saved the taxpayer over £350 per person compared with those who did not take part in the programme. 

The same research found that, while all demographics benefitted from taking part in a SWAP, the impact was greater for more disadvantaged groups, such as older customers and those with restrictive health issues.

The announcement built on measures in the Government’s Get Britain Working White Paper to overhaul jobcentres, tackle inactivity and improved outcomes for jobseekers.