Nick Gibb visited the DWP office at Gloucester Road in Bognor Regis to meet staff and discuss issues relating to the barriers to returning to work that some people face.
They discussed the various support programmes they have developed such as the SWAP programme. This is a sector-based ‘academy’ that helps people to take up jobs in specific areas of the economy. There are also schemes that help people onto work training programmes.
Susan, in the photo below, runs the 50+ programme, helping the over-50s into new occupations and training.
Nick Gibb said: “The DWP office in Bognor Regis is very different from the way it used to look. Gone are the post office-type counters and instead an open plan and welcoming environment is geared to providing one-to-one advice on how best to help people back into work. There’s also advice about how to boost your income and how best to make the transition into work or training after a period of unemployment.
“The staff at Gloucester House are dedicated professionals who care about helping people improve their living standards and find the right training and occupation. It was a pleasure to meet them on Friday.”
Photo: from left - Susan (50+ lead); Lauren Girdler (Employment Adviser); Nick Gibb; Karen Brooks (Customer Service Lead Coastal West Sussex); Liane Newton (Operational Leader West Sussex).