Employment support should remain nationally commissioned, with local partners shaping delivery rather than commissioning major programmes, says Elevate Employment Services.

 

Elevate Employment Services has submitted evidence to Parliament’s inquiry into the future of employment support, warning that further devolution of employment programmes risks creating inconsistency, delays and fragmented services for jobseekers across the country.

 

In its submission, Elevate argues that while local authorities and regional partners have an important role to play in shaping and coordinating services, responsibility for commissioning major employment support programmes should remain with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

 

The organisation points to the rollout of the Government’s Connect to Work programme as evidence of the challenges associated with devolved commissioning, with significant variation emerging between areas in procurement readiness, mobilisation and delivery capability.

 

Elevate’s evidence highlights concerns that greater devolution could result in a “postcode lottery” where individuals with similar barriers to work receive very different levels and quality of support depending on where they live.

 

Ian Ross, Chief Executive of Elevate Employment Services, said:

 

“Where someone lives should not determine the quality of employment support they receive. People facing the greatest barriers to work need specialist support delivered through a consistent national framework. Local authorities have an important role to play, but if many councils are struggling to collect recycling on time, it is difficult to argue that they should become responsible for commissioning complex employment programmes for people with the most significant barriers to work.”

 

National Accountability, Local Influence

Elevate’s submission argues that national commissioning provides clear advantages, including consistent service standards, stronger accountability, economies of scale and the ability to share best practice across the country.

 

The organisation believes DWP should retain responsibility for:

 

• Designing major employment programmes.
• Commissioning and managing contracts.
• Setting national performance measures.
• Monitoring outcomes and ensuring value for money.
• Maintaining consistent service standards across England, Scotland and Wales.

 

At the same time, local authorities, combined authorities and other regional partners should play a greater role in influencing programme priorities, identifying local labour market needs and integrating employment support with skills, housing, health and economic development services.

 

Concerns Over Local Commissioning Capacity

The evidence also raises concerns about the varying levels of commissioning and contract management expertise across local government. While some authorities have moved quickly to establish delivery arrangements under Connect to Work, others have experienced delays in procurement and mobilisation. Elevate argues that this variation reflects differences in institutional capacity rather than differences in local need. The organisation notes that successful employment programmes require specialist expertise in procurement, performance management, data analysis, provider market development and the delivery of services for people facing complex barriers to work.

 

Making Better Use of Jobcentre Flexibility

Elevate’s submission highlights the role of Jobcentres and the Flexible Support Fund (FSF), which allows local managers to tailor support to local labour market conditions and individual needs.

The organisation believes Jobcentres generally make effective use of these flexibilities, particularly when helping people overcome practical barriers to employment such as travel costs, childcare and access to training. However, Elevate notes that FSF budgets are relatively small and often limited to short-term interventions, restricting their ability to support longer-term local solutions.

 

A Consistent National Framework

Elevate concludes that the most effective approach would be a nationally commissioned employment support system with carefully targeted local flexibility, rather than further devolution of commissioning responsibilities. The organisation argues that this model would provide stronger accountability, greater consistency and more reliable outcomes for jobseekers, while ensuring that local knowledge continues to shape service delivery.