Click on the map to find out more about your region.
learndirect’s report - Work ready: Get fit for the job - makes ten recommendations which would improve people’s skills and help to smooth the recruitment process for employers and jobseekers whilst saving millions of pounds. The report highlights how £1.16bn is spend by employers each year trying to fill job vacancies yet around 23% of these post are recognised as ‘hard to fill’ and often need additional resources to get the right candidate. This is despite the fact there are up to 20 people in some areas chasing each job vacancy.
Our research with more than 3,000 jobseekers and 462 employers found:
You can read the full report here.
A summary of the research findings across the nine English regions can be found by clicking the regions on the map:
Click on the map to find out more about your region.
Read the North East research findings
Alicia Clark, 23, from Middlesbrough, left school with no qualifications. She had jobs as a shop assistant but gave up work after having her daughter in 2010. She now wants to get a job as a receptionist and came to learndirect to help her achieve this.
Alicia said: "I came to learndirect after going to Jobcentre Plus because I wanted to get a job as a receptionist so I can improve my life. I've been out of work since having my daughter.
"I can fill in job applications better now and my IT skills have helped with this. I could only use computers for Facebook and games before but now I can use word processing and all sorts which I will need to be a receptionist.
"School didn't prepare me very well for work but now I feel much better prepared for getting a job".
Read the North West research findings
Watch a video of Duncan Wilding, a tutor at PHX, Blackpool. He talks about how learndirect is helping people get back into work.
Ashley George, 22, from Bradford is a qualified painter and decorator. He's currently unemployed but wanted to gain a CSCS card so he could work onsite and improve his chances of getting a job.
He said: "The Jobcentre referred me to my local learndirect centre, Potential4skills, as they offered the CSCS card plus other courses too. They highly recommended them and this made me think they must be good and I trusted them."
Ashley is currently looking for work and has used his new computer skills to type up his CV which he's been handing out to employers.
Eventually he'd like to be a self-employed painter and decorator and said: "I felt really good when I found out I'd passed each test. My new IT qualifications will help me to do my accounts and my new maths skills will help me to work out areas for painting and wallpapering."
Read the East Midlands research findings
Watch a video of Daniel Marcus, a tutor at Exchange Group, Leicester. He talks about how learndirect is helping people get back into work.
Read the West Midlands research findings
Ishrat Rehman from Coventry has been out of work for a year. After seeing a poster for learndirect in the library she came to the Numidia learndirect centre to gain some qualifications which would help her get back into work.
Ishrat said: "After an initial chat with a learndirect tutor I decided learning was for me and decided to do qualifications in maths and English. I then went on to do my ECDL and employability course.
"I was nervous to start with but learning has really made me more confident. During my employability course I learnt how to put a CV together and send covering letters to employers. I used to really struggle with this but now I'm getting replies back which I never did before.
"I'm currently doing work experience as a receptionist at the learndirect centre and this will help me even more towards getting work."
Read the East of England research findings
Andrew came to learndirect after he saw how much his son was enjoying his course.
Andrew said: "I was computer illiterate and all jobs need this skill. I hated school but really enjoy learning now.
"In the space of three weeks I already feel confident. Staff here are fantastic and I don’t feel embarrassed to ask questions.
"I would like my son to continue learning and take more qualifications and equally he encourages me."
Read the London research findings
Amanda Cowan, 43 from London, had been a stay-at-home mum for 16 years. She came to learndirect to help get the qualifications she needed to get a job.
In a few months she's gone from being a single mum relying on benefits - to gaining an IT qualification and finding a job as a learning centre assistant.
"I've got some qualifications under my belt, a new job and a life that I am proud of," says Amanda.
"The whole learning experience has really boosted my confidence... I'm loving every second of my new job," she says.
Shaun Drake, 42, from Folkestone, was a full-time carer from a young age. This meant he left school with no qualifications.
He came to learndirect with a dream to turn his life around. He gained IT, English and maths qualifications and now has a job as a support worker for adults with mental health issues.
"It was a challenge to return to learning after 25 years," says Shaun. "But the tutors constantly supported me."
"I'm now putting my new IT skills to good use by running a local computer group," he says.
Read the South West research findings
Nigel Guppy, 48, from Poole, spent 30 years in the mechanical engineering industry, but he was made redundant in 2008. He wanted a change in career, so visited learndirect for the qualifications he needed.
Nigel says: "My IT skills were very basic, so I started with the ECDL qualification.
"I really enjoyed knowing that what I was achieving would stand me in good stead for the future."
After his ECDL, Nigel achieved qualifications in English and maths - and caught the learning bug. He's now back in work.
"I've now got a new career at the age of 48 and I couldn't be happier! I don't know what the future holds - but I know I love learning and I don't want to stop!"
Thanks for your help,
The learndirect team