ERSA unveils Ten Point Plan for Supply Chains

The Employment Related Services Association (ERSA), the trade body for the welfare to work industry, today unveils its Work Programme Supply Chain Ten Point Plan aimed at providing constructive support for supply chain relationships.

ERSA recommendations include urgent action to increase Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) referrals that disproportionately go to voluntary sector organisations, better communication through supply chains about referral numbers, and support by voluntary sector representative bodies, in partnership with ERSA, for their membership to help them meet the stringent requirements of welfare to work commissioning.

Speaking at ERSA’s annual conference in London, attended by over 250 delegates, chief executive, Kirsty McHugh said: 

“There has been much coverage in recent weeks about how the voluntary sector is faring under the Work Programme. Our membership, half of which is from the voluntary sector, is telling us that this is a complicated issue and that there is also much good practice. Many concerns emanate from the speed and nature of the procurement process, which puts pressure on all parties, and more recently the lack of Employment Support Allowance (ESA) referrals to the Work Programme, a disproportionate number of which would normally go to voluntary sector suppliers because of their specialist skills.

“ERSA is working to ensure that the entire industry takes positive steps to strengthen and streamline supply chain processes and communication to jobseekers. This is why we are today unveiling our Supply Chain Ten Point Plan and calling on government, prime contractors and voluntary sector umbrella organisations to work with us to make this a reality.”

The Supply Chain Ten Point Plan was unveiled as part of an announcement of ERSA’s organisational priorities for 2012. These are:

1. To maintain the partnership with government to ensure that welfare to work services deliver for all jobseekers in the face of an increasingly difficult economic forecast. ERSA intends to work closely with the Department for Work and Pensions to ensure appropriate responses to emerging economic circumstances and any new initiatives to support people back into work.
2. To work with the industry to ensure that there are effective supply chain relationships. ERSA’s Ten Point Plan builds on the work of its Supply Chain Forum to provide constructive mechanisms to streamline processes and strengthen relationships.
3. To place standards at the heart of the industry. ERSA, as part of a wider industry collaboration, will be launching the Institute of Employability Professionals (IEP) by June 2012. The recruitment process for the IEP’s first director commences today. 

 Commenting on ERSA’s organisational priorities, ERSA chairman, Matthew Lester, Director of Operations at the Papworth Trust, said:

 “ERSA has achieved a great deal over the last twelve months, fuelled by a new executive team, refreshed board, and a 40 percent membership growth. I am delighted that the organisation represents around 95% of the prime contractors for the Work Programme and Work Choice, along with a greater number of sub-contractors. 

 “2012 has the potential to be a very challenging year for the welfare to work industry, which means it is right that we focus our efforts on the main issues of importance to the sector.  The industry more than ever needs a strong voice to ensure that our customers get the best possible services commissioned under the most effective frameworks.”

 ERSA’S TEN POINT PLAN FOR SUPPLY CHAINS

For government

ends

Press enquiries should be directed to Philip Curry on 07919 622 053.

Notes to Editors

1. ABOUT ERSA:  The Employment Related Services Association (ERSA) is the trade association for the welfare to work industry. Established in 2005, for the industry by the industry, it exists to help its members achieve their shared goal: to help people achieve and sustain employment.
2. ERSA’s membership is as diverse as the welfare to work industry itself. Its members deliver a wide range of government-commissioned welfare to work programmes, including the Work Programme, Work Choice, Mandatory Work Activity and ESF Families, plus other employment-related services. It represents 95 percent of Work Programme and Work Choice prime contractors, plus a larger number of subcontractors. ERSA’s members are drawn almost equally from the private and voluntary sector, with a small number of public sector organisations also in membership. It is the diversity of its membership that gives ERSA its strength.
3. ABOUT ERSA’S CONFERENCE: Attended by 250 delegates, ERSA’s annual conference 2011, ‘Welfare to Work in Focus: People, Places and Public Service Reform’ is taking place at the American Conference Centre, London, in partnership with the Centre for Economic and Social Inclusion (CESI).
4. Among those speaking are the Rt Hon Chris Grayling, the Employment Minister;  the Rt Hon Stephen Timms,  Shadow Employment Minister;  Sir Stephen Bubb, Chief Executive of ACEVO, David Orr, Chief Executive of the National Housing Federation and senior representatives from the Work Foundation, CIPD, Social Finance, Social Market Foundation, among many others. 
5. ABOUT THE INSTITUTE OF EMPLOYABILITY PROFESSIONALS (IEP):  £480,000 of Growth and Innovation Funding has been achieved from the UK Commission for Employment and Skills by ERSA on behalf of the welfare to work industry. The Institute will be set up by June 2012 and builds on the successful introductions of the first qualifications for the welfare to work industry in 2011. Click here for further information.
6. ABOUT THE RECRUITMENT OF THE IEP DIRECTOR:  Recruitment consultants, Parkhouse Bell, are exclusively handling the recruitment of the first director for the Institute of Employability Professionals. For more information please contact Helen McAnally at helen@parkhousebell.com or ring 020 7242 4890.
7. ABOUT ERSA’S SUPPLY CHAIN FORUM:  ERSA’s Supply Chain Forum is open to all ERSA members, whether voluntary, private or public sector sector and encompasses both prime contractors and subcontractors. It provides a forum to share information on supply chain issues and works constructively to improve the supply chain experience. If you are interested in joining please contact Philippa.russell@ersa.org.uk / 020 7960 6809.