A new support service helping people bounce back from the coronavirus pandemic in Reading has been officially opened – and it’s already making a difference.
We're delivering the UK Government’s new Restart Scheme in the region, helping people to pick up skills for the modern workplace and find suitable, sustainable jobs.
Councillor Jason Brock, Leader of Reading Borough Council, officially opened the new office at Reading Business Centre in Queens Walk on Tuesday 15 February.
During the event, attendees were given an insight into how we are delivering the Restart Scheme, which helps people who have been out of work for nine months or longer with tailored support.
Our frontline team are on hand to help with everything from updating CVs to tackling health concerns, and from impressing at interviews to launching new start-up businesses.
The 26-strong team are already working with some of the region’s leading employers, including Thames Water, Travelodge and Compass Group. And since Fedcap began delivering the scheme last year, it has supported more than 1,300 people across the South Central area of England to successfully find new jobs – including almost a hundred in Reading.
Councillor Jason Brock said: “Reading is a town of tremendous business success, even in spite of the pandemic, but that success has also created a job market where it’s a huge challenge for some to get their foot in the door.
“We know that there are parts of Reading with entrenched economic inequalities and persistently higher unemployment levels, contributing to the town being one of England’s most unequal places. The approach that Fedcap specialise in – of offering holistic support to get people into employment or starting up their own business – is exactly what’s needed if we’re to help every resident to share in Reading’s success.”
Brian Bell, Chief Executive at Fedcap Employment, said: “We’re thrilled to be opening this new office in Reading – the heartbeat of our work across the South Central region.
“Our Reading team is successfully placing one person per day into employment. We’re here to make a difference to people’s lives, and we’ve already started to see the positive impact we can have in the area. Day after day, our customers are picking up the skills, confidence and experience that they need to kickstart the next stages of their working lives and careers.”
