MORE than 19,000 people in Bradford are set to receive help to find work as part of a new scheme.

Maximus UK and its partners will be delivering the new Restart Scheme across West Yorkshire, including Bradford, supporting people who lost their jobs because of the pandemic back into work.

The Restart Scheme provides 12 months of tailored and community-based support for people who are long-term unemployed, and forms part of the Government’s Plan for Jobs.

People on the innovative scheme will receive support to learn new skills, overcome barriers to work and gain access to vacancies to help them secure employment.

In West Yorkshire, more than 63,000 people will be supported to find employment through the Restart Scheme. This includes more than 19,000 in Bradford, more than 11,000 in Kirklees, over 21,000 in Leeds, more than 7,000 in Wakefield and over 5,000 in Calderdale.

They will also be provided with the chance to retrain to find work in growth sectors, gain professional accreditations and improve digital skills.

To deliver the Restart Scheme, Maximus UK is in the process of recruiting more than 1,000 new employees in the UK.

Maximus UK will also invest more than £5 million into hundreds of community organisations, charities and small to medium sized businesses through our new Community Partnership Network which will provide expert support services, including training and mental health support, to people on the Restart Scheme.

Dr Paul Williams, Division President of Maximus UK, said: "Through delivery of the Restart Scheme, we are committed to playing our part in the national effort to rebuild the British economy.

"We are looking forward to working with local community partners to help thousands of people to access effective, tailored support and overcome barriers so that they can get back into work."

The Restart Scheme offers Universal Credit claimants who have been out of work for between 12 and 18 months enhanced support to find a job. The scheme is part of the UK Government’s Plan for Jobs, launched last year, to support people across the country who have been directly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Maximus UK will be delivering the Restart Scheme across South and West Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire and South and East London.

In South and West Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, Maximus UK will support more than 145,000 people through the scheme. All referrals to the scheme will be through the Department for Work and Pensions network of Jobcentres.

Maximus UK operates several businesses in the UK, and employs more than 4,000 specialists, including over 1,000 employment advisers, 1,400 doctors, nurses, occupational therapists and other Healthcare Professionals. Operating from more than 270 locations, Maximus UK is one of the largest providers of employment, health and disability support programmes in the country.