Employment Zones

Employment Zones for Jobseekers Allowance customers

Employment Zone is a three-stage programme offering you practical support to get back to work if you live in one of the following areas:

• Nottingham
• Plymouth
• Doncaster
• Heads of the Valleys, Caerphilly and Torfaen
• Brighton and Hove
• Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland
• North West Wales
• Birmingham
• Glasgow
• Liverpool and Sefton
• Tower Hamlets and Newham
• Brent and Haringey
• Southwark

Throughout your time on Employment Zone you will work with a personal adviser.

During stage 1, which is mandatory and lasts up to 28 days, your adviser will help you to decide on the kind of work you are looking for and understand what may be preventing you from getting that work. Together you will draw up an action plan, which will list the things you have agreed to take on as part of your efforts to find work.

During stage 2, which is mandatory and lasts up to 26 weeks, you will carry out the activities listed on your action plan with support from your adviser.

Stage 3 is a voluntary option to continue on the Employment Zone for up to 22 weeks. You can choose to join stage 3 if you have not found a job during stage 2.

You must take part in the Employment Zone programme if:

• You are aged 25 and over and have been receiving Jobseeker's Allowance for 18 of the last 21 months
• You are aged 18-24 and have been receiving Jobseeker's Allowance for 6 months and have previously taken part in New Deal for Young People
• You have taken part in an Employment Zone programme in the last 12 months but did not complete the programme.

You may be able to apply to join an Employment Zone programme earlier if your circumstances make it particularly difficult for you to find work.

Employment Zones for lone parents and people getting Pension Credit

Employment Zone is a voluntary programme, lasting up to 26 weeks, which offers an individually tailored package of support to help you get back to work if you live in one of the following areas:

• Nottingham
• Plymouth
• Doncaster
• Heads of the Valleys, Caerphilly and Torfaen
• Brighton and Hove
• Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland
• North West Wales
• Birmingham
• Glasgow
• Liverpool and Sefton
• Tower Hamlets and Newham
• Brent and Haringey
• Southwark

If you are a lone parent you can volunteer for Employment Zone help at any time as long as:

• you are not working 16 or more hours a week and
• you are not receiving Jobseeker's Allowance.

If you get Pension Credit you can volunteer for Employment Zone at any time as long as you are not working 16 or more hours a week.

Contact Jobcentre Plus to check if you are eligible.