Wolves at Work has reached another major milestone as it continues to support Wolverhampton residents with jobs and skills during the pandemic.

The City of Wolverhampton Council and Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) employment programme has now helped more than 6,000 local people into work since March 2017.

Around 50 per cent of those gaining employment are aged 18 to 29.

The established partnership continues to provide support digitally during lockdown – and views its collaborative approach as critical to connecting Wolverhampton residents facing redundancy with future skills and employment offers.

Online platform, www.wolvesworkbox.com offers easy access to support, training and advertises current vacancies.

Wolves at Work also provides tailored ethical recruitment and workforce development business support.

Individual work coaches are on hand to support jobseekers to secure new jobs or upskill in existing roles, while receiving mentoring support.

Anyone who needs support can contact Wolves at Work by emailing WolvesAtWork@wolverhampton.gov.uk.

City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for City Economy, Councillor Stephen Simkins, said: “The sterling work that Wolves at Work do is needed now more than ever with people losing their jobs due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“These are hugely challenging times for residents and businesses and in Wolves at Work we are fortunate to have an excellent and well-established model of what collaborative working can achieve when it comes to getting people into and keeping them in work, as well as supporting businesses with skills development.

“In the past we have helped people from different backgrounds in different businesses – everything from chocolate making to building, and public administration to health and social care.

“The Wolves at Work partnership is now needed more than ever to help businesses drive our recovery from this current crisis and reconnect people to job opportunities.”

Wolves at Work client Vince Mansfield, of Bilston, has landed a job at Sharps Bedrooms.

The 55-year-old said: “I found Wolves at Work very helpful in my long-standing search for a job. I was lacking computer skills so found it difficult to apply for jobs online or sending over my CV. I had already personally hand-delivered two CVs to Sharps Bedrooms previously with no success, so, the support from my coach Claire in helping me to apply made a huge difference and this is what led to me now being employed by Sharps.”

Bupinder Katheru, of Penn Fields, was looking for a career change after the Waitrose store closure and has been helped to find a new job in a clerical position with the NHS.

The 38-year-old said: “My job search was challenging as my confidence and self-esteem was holding me back. Wolves at Work provided interview coaching, emotional support and the confidence to go for jobs I didn’t think I was good enough for. The Wolves at Work work coaches will support you and help you with job searches and planning your week. They will also give you the confidence to apply for jobs you wouldn’t even consider applying for.”

More than 600 businesses have also pledged their support to Wolves at Work and, as well as providing employment opportunities, have welcomed 865 people into Sector Based Work Academies, and almost 400 into work experience.

Wolves at Work also offers support to care leavers, former military personnel and ex-offenders.

Anne Tift, DWP Senior Employer and Partnership Manager for the Black Country, said: “6,000 people into work through Wolves at Work is an outstanding achievement.  We have a fantastic network of Work Coaches who operate seamlessly across the whole city. They work with people of all ages overcome barriers, giving individually tailored support to help local people secure sustained employment.”