New Deal 18 to 24 elements

Participation on New Deal for 18 to 24 year olds will include one or more of the following elements:

Gateway

This lasts for a maximum of 16 weeks. However, this can be extended by up to 4 weeks for participants with barriers to employment. A New Deal Personal Adviser works closely with participants providing advice and guidance to enable them to find a path out of unemployment. Participants can avail of a short accredited training course during the Gateway period.

Participants may also attend Core Gateway. This is a period of training and development lasting up to 10 days which provides participants with the skills required to find a job. It is designed to:

increase the prospects of moving into a job quickly
identify special needs or essential skills needs
facilitate referral to appropriate provision
equip participants with “soft skills”
prepare participants to choose and benefit from employment or a New Deal opportunity

Employment Option

A full or part-time job with an employer which should be permanent or last at least 6 months. The employer receives a subsidy of up to £60 per week for a full-time job and if appropriate, up to an additional £750 towards training.

Self Employment Test Trading (SETT)

This allows participants to experience the realities and responsibilities of self-employment, by trying out a business idea for up to 26 weeks, with ongoing support and advice from a self-employment provider. During the SETT period participants will receive a Benefit-Based Training Allowance equivalent to their former rate of JSA and a top-up payment of £15.38 per week.

Environmental Task Force Option/Voluntary Sector Option

A job or work placement lasting up to 13 weeks. Participants will have the opportunity to pursue a short accredited vocationally related qualification. While on the Environmental Task Force or Voluntary Sector options participants will receive Benefit-Based Training Allowance and a top up payment of £15.38 per week.

Full-Time Education and Training (FTET)

This offers the opportunity to undertake a first full NVQ Level 2 (52 wks) from a core list of occupational areas, or obtain a minimum of 3 units of an NVQ Level 2 or 3 (26 wks) resulting in the achievement of a full NVQ or alternatively a Voluntary Related Qualifications (VRQ) (26 wks). You will also have a work experience placement with an employer, usually 4 days per week.

Essential Skills Training

Young people identified as requiring intensive help with essential skills and assessed by a qualified essential skills tutor will be able to avail of Essential Skills Training for up to 26 weeks. Its primary aim is to address the individuals essential skills needs through the achievement of a nationally recognised essential skills qualification. While on Essential Skills Training participants will receive Benefit-Based Training Allowance and a top-up payment of £15.38 per week.

Follow-Through

For those participants who are still unemployed at the end of the Option period there will be Follow-Through support from New Deal Personal Advisers to ensure that participants are helped to build on their experience and improve their prospects of moving into employment. Follow-Through will last for 6 weeks during which participants will attend weekly interviews with the New Deal Personal Adviser. Participants can avail of a short accredited training course during the Follow-Through period if not availed of during Gateway participation.

For more information contact your local Jobs & Benefits office / JobCentre and ask to speak to a New Deal Personal Adviser.