Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 26
26
Acknowledged
£55 million funding for jobs and careers service development allocated across three key areas.
Conclusion
In the 2024 Autumn Budget, the government allocated £55 million for the Department to invest in developing new digital services and testing elements of the jobs and careers service in 2025–26.55 We asked the Department what progress has been made in deciding how to use the extra £55 million in funding it had been allocated.56 It told us that it was spending some of the money on a coaching academy to upskills its work coaches on what the jobs and careers service is going to be, on its ‘pathfinder projects’ around parts of the country, and on developing digital services for the new jobs and careers service.57
Government Response Summary
The government outlines how the allocated £55 million is being spent on testing and developing the new Jobs and Careers Service, including pathfinder projects, digital services, and staff training.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
5.2 Funding for 2025-26 is intended to design and test the new Jobs and Careers Service. £15 million has been allocated to undertake a series of tests and trials, of which the Wakefield Pathfinder is one test, £5 million to explore alternative delivery solutions, £20 million has been allocated to progress digital activity which will underpin the Jobs and Careers Service, including developing and testing prototypes for the new digital service. £13 million has been allocated to cover resources to enable delivery. This includes coaching and training for staff, branding development, activity to engage employers as well as staffing. This also includes a £2 million contingency applied to all programme activity.