A joint Cabinet Office and Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport-funded programme that aims to improve job opportunities and personal finance skills for often-overlooked demographic groups has unveiled a tranche of new projects.
The Inclusive Economy Partnership launched four major initiatives in conjunction with partner businesses, campaign groups, charities, and one combined authority at an event in Westminster this week.
Among the projects is a recruitment company specifically geared up to help “neurodiverse” people – such as those with dyslexia, dyscalculia, autism, or Tourette Syndrome – find jobs. Another focuses on providing money advice to black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, as well as to other hard-to-reach-groups.
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The Cabinet Office said that 18 small social innovators would be sharing £360,000 in government funding as part of the IEP drive, supported by the innovation foundation Nesta.
Another major programme is Transition to Work, which brings together businesses Accenture and O2; campaign group Movement to Work; the charities UnLtd and Youth Employment UK; and West Midlands Combined Authority to develop a new ways of helping young people in the region to find work.
Cabinet Office minister Oliver Dowden said the Inclusive Economy Partnership, which was set up in September last year, sat “at the heart” of the government’s pledge to build a stronger economy and a fairer society.
“We are committed to delivering on that promise, and the IEP enables us to harness the benefits of working with smaller organisations who bring fresh, creative ideas to the table so we can create a much bigger impact, across government and across the country,” he said.
Building society Nationwide is working with some of the 120 organisations that have signed up with the IEP on a programme that aims to help the millions of UK households that have no savings or who rely heavily. The Cabinet Office said the “FinTech” challenge would launch in September.