"economic downturn is the very moment when we need to invest in human capital." Lord Leitch

Ixion drives forward several target-smashing employability initiatives by proactively acting upon both employers’ requirements and individual’s needs and aspirations.

Ixion is delivering the following Employability contracts:

• Job Centre Plus Support Contract (JCPSC)
• The Single Work Programme
• New Enterprise Allowance

IXION is on the DWP FRAMEWORK for the SINGLE WORK PROGAMME

As part of Paragon (concord). Ixion is part of the consortium that is on the DWP Framework in the West Midlands and South West England and that has become a Prime contractor to DWP for Cornwall.

IXION and SINGLE WORK PROGAMME in London (West and East), Thames Valley and SE England

Ixion has become a sub-contractor in the delivery of the Single Work Programme in London (West) and also London (East) along with Thames Valley and the SE England from the 1 June 2011, including:

West London: End to End delivery in Hounslow and Kingston, working with long-term unemployed residents

East London: End to End delivery in Lambeth and Southwark, working with long-term unemployed residents

South East: End to End delivery in Newbury and High Wycombe with long-term unemployed residents

Thames Valley: Oxfordshire through to Hampshire and the Isle of Wight providing End to End specialist support for graduates and BAME customers

East of England: Providing Specialist Vocational Support

North West England: Providing Specialist Support

Yorkshire and Humberside: Providing Specialist Support.

Ixion DWP Families Contracts

1. As part of the Prime contractor Paragon Concord Ltd, Ixion is part of this SPV that has won the £13m Families contract.

2. As a subcontractor Ixion has an Office operating for DWP Families in Milton Keynes.

These contracts are aimed at:

• reducing unemployment “through more effective engagement”
• moving “individuals into sustainable jobs through support, learning and achievement of qualifications”

Ixion is experienced and has qualified tutors and advisors who take the customer on a co-ordinated journey. First by asking the right questions and assessing needs. Then by building the individuals confidence and employability by taking small steps through Skills for Life training, job search skills, sector-specific short vocational courses and CV-writing. The final piece is helping them to find and retain employment.

In essence Ixion builds the customers confidence and VALUE to an employer.

Ixion’s delivery is informed by research on the most effective ways to get people back into work and contributing to the economy and their community. In short – what WORKS?

This requires integrated services, increasing skills, tackling specific basic skills gaps, extending best practice, tailored advice and guidance, and sourcing more sustainable jobs through support, learning and achievement of qualifications.

Ixion not only offers training and progression to those already in work, but also offers support to hard-to-reach and disadvantaged groups, such as minorities and those with few or no qualifications, by building their confidence and ability to return to or enter the workforce.

And the journey doesn’t end there. We aim to mentor and support individuals - once in employment - to go on and undertake further learning and progression, to boost their motivation and add value to any employer.

Geographic Coverage

Delivery is supported by a network of outreach centres and mobile learning units in addition to our premises that are equipped with IT systems, laptops and jobsearch facilities. These are generally used for outreach delivery basis in areas like the North West, South East rural areas, London estates etc.

We also have access to hundreds of theatres, music halls, concert and exhibition arenas and cinema locations to deliver Work Programme services nationally.

This means we have access to locations accross UK to support our contract delivery requirements and reach those that are hardest to help.

All our premises are located in key central hubs allowing for easy access to public transport, local amenities, and JCP offices.