News

The New Deal has been shaken up with eight private sector providers losing their contracts.

Two new pilot areas have also been introduced for the components of the programme affected, the New Deal for Young People and New Deal 25 Plus.

According to government figures the New Deal for Young People had helped 351,340 young people into jobs by the end of January this year. But, in an attempt to make the scheme more attractive for employers and reduce red tape, earlier this year the government implemented changes to the employment option of the programme.


Efforts are also being made to make young people's training more job-focused, incorporated into existing training processes, and tailored to clients' individual needs.

The two new pilot areas are in London: Hammersmith and Fulham; and Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea. From 18 November new providers will take over schemes in Hackney & City, also in Tyneside North and South Humber.

In Leicester, North Essex, Solihull and West Lancashire, one of the two existing providers will have sole control of the scheme.