Going Forward
into Employment
– Schemes

Autistic Hiring Programme

The MoD Autism Hiring Programme is specifically designed to help people with Autism into Employment.  

 Individuals can experience barriers to employment because they find it hard to compete through fair and open competition due to a range of challenges including possible lack of qualifications and/or work experience.  

The programme works with  partners associated with the National Autistic Society (NAS)to recruit people with Autism into roles in the MOD.

Contact us: Mavis.Darkwah101@mod.gov.uk

Supported Internships

The DfE Supported Internships is specifically designed to help people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) for the world of work.

The programme supports  those engaged with partners associated with Health Education England.  The candidates will be sourced through this network, via a supported internship. Which has been available for all post-16 ESFA funded education providers since Sept 2013.  The internship is a structured study programme based at an employer and is normally unpaid, lasting up to a minimum of six months.  Where possible they support the young person moving into paid employment at the end of the programme.

Contact us: fiona.taylor@education.gov.uk

Defra WorkFit

The GFiE Life Chance Recruitment Scheme for Defra WorkFit is specifically designed to help people who have Down’s Syndrome. This cohort can experience barriers to employment because of lack of opportunities, low expectations, stereotyping and other negative attitudes.

The programme works with partners associated with WorkFit (part of the Down’s Syndrome Association Charity), and candidates are referred through this network to provide supportive employment placements to help expand experience and learn new skills. WorkFit is also geared towards building individuals’ confidence and providing professional development opportunities which may lead to permanent roles.

Contact us: nicola.coombes@defra.gov.uk

Care Leavers Internship Scheme

The GFiE Civil Service Care Leavers Internship Scheme is a flagship scheme which gives care leavers the chance to benefit from up to 18 months paid internship in a central Government department/agency, with the possibility of the post being made permanent at the end of the 12 months.

Care leavers apply directly via the Civil Service Jobs Portal and are eligible if they:

• are aged between 18-30
• were eligible for a leaving care support package when they left care
• satisfy the Civil Service Nationality requirements

No qualifications are required for this internship and apprenticeships may be offered as part of some roles.

Contact us: Leavers.CARE@education.gov.uk

DfE Traineeships

DfE Traineeship scheme is specifically designed to help young individuals aged 18-24 year olds, who are unemployed and lack the experience to move into sustainable work or apprenticeships in the Department for Education. DfE work with local training/ providers to find the right individuals to offer traineeship opportunities to.

Contact us: Sophie.SINGH@education.gov.uk

Opportunities for Young Adults Scheme

The scheme provides Apprenticeships/Work Trial Opportunities for Young Adults from Barnardo’s and is specifically designed to help people who are vulnerable Young Adults, who  can experience barriers to employment because of lack of life skills and experience in employment.   

The programme works with those engaged with partners associated with Barnado’s, the UK’s largest children’s charity.

Contact us: Brenda.Powis@ukhsa.gov.uk

Springboard

The HMRC Springboard scheme offers roles to young people in HMRC  through a unique apprenticeship programme for disadvantaged young people aged 16-18, who attend Alternative Provision (APUs) or Pupil Referral Units (PRUs.) We work with the APU/RPUs to jointly assess and select individuals who may then be deemed suitable to be offered an Apprenticeship and Fixed Term Appointment under the scheme.

Contact us: outreachteamadmin@hmrc.gov.uk

Probation Employment Pathway

The Probation Employment Pathway (PEP) scheme supports individuals who experience barriers to employment due to the nature of the criminal background and their interactions with the Criminal Justice system.   

The scheme offers employment within the Probation Service on a 2-year fixed-term appointment, outside of fair and open recruitment, building upon the success of the GFiE Prison Leavers scheme by broadening the eligibility to applicants who:

• Have been released from a custodial sentence within the last 10 year
• Have been convicted of a community sentence within the last 10 years
• Have received a conditional discharge within the last 10 years
• Have received an out of court disposal within the last 10 years

Contact us: anthony.andrews5@justice.gov.uk

Life Chance scheme for Prison Leavers

The GFiE Life Chance Employment Scheme for Prison Leavers is designed to match candidates who face barriers to employment into civil service roles.

Open to prison leavers and people who have been released within a five year period and are on licence, fully engaged and complying with probation.  People who’ve completed a  community sentence, and remain on licence and engaged with probation within five years of their sentence. 

Read more about Prison Leaver recruitment

GFiE works with New Futures Network and Prisons across the UK to identify candidates.

Contact us: gfie@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Diversifying CPS Careers

Diversifying CPS Careers is specifically designed to help young people from organisations who work with individuals from areas of low social mobility, and who meet specific challenging criteria.  The scheme offers both paralegal apprenticeships and a wider range of apprenticeships in, for example, HR and Commercial and Procurement. 

Completion of the paralegal apprenticeship leads to a recognised apprenticeship qualification. Paralegal Assistants support CPS Crown Prosecutors in the Crown and Magistrates Court. This practical experience gained in this role, coupled with the qualification will provide an excellent foundation for anyone wishing to pursue a legal Career.  The programme works with The Sutton Trust, Social Mobility Business Partnership and the Anthony Walker Foundation to find candidates and provide opportunities for roles in CPS.

Contact us: Vicky.Readman@cps.gov.uk

Social Mobility Apprenticeship Programme

Social mobility apprenticeships are offered to claimants aged 16 years or over, who are in receipt of benefits and have significant barriers to work and or complex needs such as:

• long term unemployment
• Little work experience
• low or limited qualifications,
• Unlikely to get through a standard recruitment process
• those who are care leavers, carers, prison leavers, veterans or veteran spouses.

Social mobility apprentices work towards an accredited apprenticeship at level 2 or level 3, depending on their ability. They may also complete Functional skills as part of their apprenticeship.

DWP also work with schools to identify school leavers who meet specific Social Mobility criteria and offer out the Social Mobility apprenticeship opportunities to those in receipt of Pupil Premium, who are from a lower socio-economic background. This includes mainstream School Leavers and those in Pupil Referral Units.

Contact us: Jacob.Stephenson@dwp.gov.uk

Pathway to Employment

This scheme provides opportunities to people from lower socio-economic backgrounds in order to create a more diverse talent pool that will benefit both employers and employees.

By collaborating with partners including Life Chances, the Schools Outreach Network, Princes Trust, and Not Going to Uni, Defra partners with organisations that support the ethos of our programme.

The scheme provides developmental opportunities to individuals of all ages but is primarily designed to support those who may have not considered/undertaken learning due to socio-economic factors rather than personal ability.”

Contact us: Aldean.Newman-Agar@defra.gov.uk

Life Chance scheme for Carers

The GFiE Life Chance Employment Scheme is designed to match candidates who face barriers to employment into civil service roles.

Working with Carers Trust to identify Young Adult Carers or former young adult carers who have had their opportunity to access education and training impacted by their caring role as well as Carers who are now ready to enter the workplace following time out of work because of caring responsibilities.

Contact us: gfie@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Life Chance scheme for Veterans and Military Spouses/Partners

This scheme is for Veterans, Service Leavers and Spouses or Partners of Military personnel who meet the criteria and must:

• Be a  Veteran of the Armed Forces
• Be in your resettlement period and due to leave the Armed Forces within a reasonable timeframe to take up a new role
• Military Spouse/Partner: Your current partner must still be serving OR must have been discharged within the last 12 months.  

Contact us: gfie@cabinetoffice.gov.uk