Case Study - Helping jobseekers

For jobseekers or the long-term unemployed, getting back into work can be a challenging experience, without the added headache of working out how to commute to and from work on time and the cost of transport. For shift workers commuting at unsociable hours or those faced with a long, difficult journey, the daily commute can be a daunting task and heavy financial burden.

Collectively encouraging greater use of public transport and making it more amenable is a key priority as it is so vital to improving the region’s economy and environment.

The solution

Through a strategic partnership with West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive - Metro, the five West Yorkshire local authorities and Jobcentre Plus, Yorkshire Forward developed the ‘Travel for Work Partnership’ – a successful project aimed at helping jobseekers overcome travel barriers and therefore ease their path back into employment.

Yorkshire Forward is investing £1 million over three years into Travel for Work which will ensure that over 3,000 eligible jobseekers are provided with benefits such as free Metro travel tickets for their first month of work and route planning information and advice.

In the current climate, better connecting people to jobs by making public transport more accessible to everyone, is a key economic intervention for Yorkshire Forward.

The  Outcome

Jobseeker James Lythe, who was offered a position at Morrisons in Guiseley after being unemployed for two years, is one of the thousands of jobseekers to benefit from the project. James received a free MetroCard for his first month of travel to Morrisons and advice on how to plan his bus journey from Metroline and his Jobcentre Plus adviser.

James, commented: “I found the travel information really helpful as I work shifts, so I needed to know that I could definitely get back home late at night. The free MetroCard was great, I catch four buses a day and am paid monthly, so it really helped until the first pay day.”

Overall the project has had a very positive impact in the region. In a recent survey conducted amongst people who have benefitted from the scheme, key findings included:

• 65% of people remained in employment up to 13 weeks after receiving support from Travel for Work
• 85% of those still in work are continuing to use public transport as a result
• 74% have a better understanding of the tickets and passes available