Jobcentre Plus and Royal Mail signed an agreement on 30 May 2007 to deliver jobs across Scotland. The agreement builds on an existing relationship to fill Royal Mail job vacancies efficiently and effectively, and to encourage a more diverse workforce in Royal Mail.

Jobcentre Plus will provide Royal Mail with local labour market information and assist with manpower planning, particularly in the run up to their busiest time of year at Christmas. This service will be delivered through a dedicated account manager and the Jobcentre Plus e-service Employer Direct Online.

Royal Mail will continue to recruit a diverse workforce from ethic minorities, older workers, lone parents and people with disabilities. It is currently looking at flexible working practices and hopes to offer more 20-hour contracts for people to work around their other commitments. It will also aim to interview candidates who meet the minimum requirements for the job advertised.

Kevin Doran, customer service director (Scotland) for Jobcentre Plus, highlighted the difficulties within the Scottish labour market:
"There is now a 76.6% employment rate in Scotland, which results in fewer people in the marketplace for vacancies. Many employers are now finding it difficult to find the right person for their job.

"There are however still around 132,000 people of working age not working in Scotland. There can be many reasons for this. It could be ill health, bringing up children or caring for adults. This can lead to feelings of isolation and issues with self-esteem and confidence. Jobcentre Plus can help individuals combat these issues and deal with the transition from welfare benefits into work."

Kevin welcomed the agreement between Jobcentre Plus and the Royal Mail and pointed out the benefits of recruiting a diverse workforce. He said:
"By removing the labels or assumptions employers make about people's circumstances we can open up a whole new labour market. This gives more choice and ultimately can secure the right person for the job."

Scott McKinnon, Royal Mail Group recruitment manager for Scotland & Northern Ireland, said:
"The relationship with Jobcentre Plus and Royal Mail Group in Scotland continues to grow year on year. I'm confident this partnership will continue to flourish with Jobcentre Plus playing an integral role in fulfilling Royal Mail Group's future resourcing requirements. Like any business we have to compete in what sometimes can be a tight local labour market. Having the facility to call upon a local representative or a dedicated account manager for support, gaining information or just bouncing ideas off is fantastic."

Factbox

• Employer Direct online (EDon) gives employers an additional way to notify and manage vacancies 24 hours a day, seven days a week;
  
• EDon was awarded an E-Government National Award in January 2006 and was runner up in the DWP Government Computing awards for innovation - Best Project - Government to Business category in April 2007;
  
• Over 25 per cent of vacancies placed with Jobcentre Plus are notified through this service;
  
• Jobcentre Plus is aiming for a third of all vacancies to be placed this way by 2008;
  
• Royal Mail employs 12,300 people in Scotland;
  
• It has four mail centres in Aberdeen, Inverness, Glasgow and Edinburgh, 303 delivery offices, five collection hubs and a distribution centre in Wishaw.

Notes for editors

For further information please contact:
Laura Stevens, Jobcentre Plus, Ayrshire, Dumfries, Galloway and Inverclyde
Telephone: 01292 666037
Email: Laura.Stevens@jobcentreplus.gsi.gov.uk

For media enquiries contact:
Samantha O'Kane, Department for Work and Pensions press office Scotland
Telephone: 0131 222 5227
Email: regional-press-office-scotland@dwp.gsi.gov.uk