Surrey jobseekers can find jobs, learn new skills and access employment support in a single, simple and accessible way via Surrey County Councilโs new STEP Surrey gateway services portal.
Latest figures show that more than one in six people of working age in Surrey (17.9%) are not currently in work.
Of these, 22,400 people want to work but are unable to find suitable employment.
Barriers include:
- education (30%)
- long-term health conditions (20.2%) and
- care responsibilities (19%).
STEP Surrey aims to change that, providing a single gateway for those looking for work, regardless of their circumstances, background or experience.
The aim is to make it easier for job seekers to access the help and support they need, while helping local employers fill vacancies and skills gaps. Visitors will be able to access a live jobs board updated twice a day bringing thousands of live jobs together into a single platform.
Those who need extra support will be able to contact dedicated experts who can provide bespoke guidance to help people in Surrey find work and learn new skills.
Surrey Skills Conference
STEP Surrey was launched last week at the first ever Surrey Skills Conference, which brought together 200 employers, education, academia and government delegates to discuss how skills can power the countyโs future economy.
It was organised by the council, in partnership with Surrey Chambers of Commerce, with keynote contributions from Robert West, Head of Employment and Skills at the Confederation of British Industry and Holly Hobbs, a Gen-Z influencer and co-founder of urfuture.
Key topics included how to make the most of the transfer of skills powers locally from government and addressing challenges, such as driving business growth by equipping those out of work with the skills employers need to thrive.
Employment support for Surrey residents
Delegates also learned more about upcoming government-funded programmes available in Surrey.
This includes Connect to Work, which will support 2,500 people with complex barriers to work into local employment over the next five years; and WorkWell, which provides coaching to those with health challenges to get into, return to and stay in work.
Councillor Matt Furniss, Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Economic Growth, said: โSurrey is a diverse, vibrant and well-connected region contributing more than ยฃ50 billion a year to the UK economy โ we have a great economic story to tell.
โBut beyond those headlines, we know there are challenges, not least the tens of thousands of residents who are currently out of work but want to work.
โThe Government has brought renewed focus to work, health, economic inactivity and skills, and thanks to devolution, for the first time we can shape our approach to skills and employment across a single Surrey footprint.
โSTEP Surrey is central to that mission โ making it easier for every resident to access the training, support and opportunities they need to thrive in our local economy.โ
To access help for people in Surrey to find work, training and skills support, visit www.stepsurrey.co.uk.
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