Evaluation of the Single Provider Employment Zone Extension
Research Report No. 312
by Rita Griffiths, Stuart Durkin and Alison Mitchell
Employment Zones (EZs) were introduced in April 2000 in fifteen areas of the UK experiencing high concentrations of long-term unemployed people. They targeted long-term unemployed individuals aged 25 and over who had been claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA). In October 2003, EZ customer groups were expanded to include lone parents in receipt of Income Support (IS), young unemployed people aged 18-24 returning to New Deal, and JSA claimants entitled to gain early entry to the EZ due to the disadvantages they face in the labour market. In seven EZ areas, a single provider is delivering services to new and existing 25 plus customers. In other EZs areas, multiple-provider arrangements have been implemented which are the subject of a separate evaluation.
In November 2003, Insite Research and Consulting, an independent research consultancy, was appointed by the Department for Work and Pensions to evaluate the extension of Employment Zones to new client groups in the seven single-provider areas. The aim of the research was to describe the EZ approach, assessing the effectiveness and value of specific EZ interventions to new customer groups. The research was conducted over two phases. Phase one addressed early implementation issues and took place between November 2003 and November 2004. Phase one findings were published in January 2005.
Phase two took place between January and October 2005. The research comprised a series of follow-up interviews with EZ customers and staff in seven EZ single-provider areas between 12 and 15 months after they were interviewed in phase one. The aim was to explore longer-term customer experiences and outcomes and to assess changes in viewsover time. Phase two also included interviews with Jobcentre Plus staff to address customer referral issues. This report presents findings from phase two.
January 2006 120 pages 297x210mm
ISBN 1 84123 948 8
