Phil Lowthian

Organisation
Jobcentre Plus

Job title/role

E-mail
phil.lowthian @jobcentreplus.gsi.gov.uk

Website
www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk

Area covered by organisation
The Greater Manchester Central District of Jobcentre Plus covers the local authority areas of Manchester, Salford and Trafford

Sector
Jobcentre Plus is a public government agency

Organisation's aims or vision
Promoting "work for those who can and support for those who can not" by:
- helping disadvantaged people into work, as a route out of poverty
- providing financial support as a safety net for people of working age while they are out of work
- addressing the inequalities of opportunity
- protecting the integrity of the benefit system
- working with employers and partners to address market failure in the labour market

Organisation's key targets
- Increase the effective supply of labour by promoting work as the best form of welfare and helping unemployed and economically inactive people move into employment
- Work towards parity of outcomes for ethnic minority customers
- Pay customers the correct benefit at the correct time and protect the benefit system fom fraud, error and abuse
- Provide high quality and demand-led services to employers, which help fill job vacancies quickly and effectively with well-prepared and motivated employees
- Help people facing the greatest barriers to employment to compete effectively in the labour market and move into and remain in work

Organisation's main activities in 2007
As above, and:
- Improve continuously the quality, accessibility and delivery of services to all customers
- Ensure that people receiving working age benefits fulfil their responsibilities while providing appropriate help and support for those without work
- Increase Jobcentre Plus' overall productivity, efficiency and effectiveness

Additional information
Two of Jobcentre Plus' key areas of work are
Pathways to Work This is a strategy for enabling people with health conditions to move into work and so become and remain independent
Stepping Stones into Work Funded through Neighbourhood Renewal Funds (NRF), this project is delivered in partnership by work solutions and Jobcentre Plus. It employs specialist advisers to offer help through training, advice, motivation and other routes to help customers to move into or closer to work. Supporting this activity is an extensive marketing campaign and solid efforts to make links with many partners who touch the lives of this group.
Mike is also a member of the Strategic Partnership's executive.