Minister visits CIPD Trust workshop supporting jobseekers in Croydon
The Employment Minister saw first-hand how the CIPD Trust is helping people overcome barriers to work, and heard from local employers about what more can be done.
The Employment Minister saw first-hand how the CIPD Trust is helping people overcome barriers to work, and heard from local employers about what more can be done.
Dame Diana Johnson MP, Minister for Employment, visited Croydon Jobcentre on 16 June to see the CIPD Trust's employability support in action.
The Minister observed a workshop led by CIPD Trust volunteer Cheryl Samuels, People & Culture Director at Evelina, part of Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Trust. The session brought together 23 jobseekers and focused on a practical challenge many face: identifying transferable skills from life experience and using them in a job search.
Participants worked on building strong CVs and preparing for interviews. The session also opened up a broader conversation about AI in job-hunting and how candidates can use it to their advantage. Feedback was positive. Many attendees highlighted the value of hearing directly from HR professionals, and several signed up for one-to-one mentoring through the CIPD Trust.
Following the workshop, Dame Diana co-chaired a roundtable with CIPD Chief Executive Peter Cheese, joined by local employers, HR professionals and Jobcentre representatives.
The discussion looked at how organisations are currently working with Jobcentre Plus to fill vacancies, and what better collaboration could look like. Participants pointed to the value of employers engaging earlier in the process, and of closer working between HR professionals and work coaches.
Opportunities for young people were a key theme. Attendees raised concerns among younger jobseekers about AI and its impact on their careers, alongside growing interest in apprenticeships as an alternative to university. However, participants noted that access to good apprenticeship opportunities is not consistent everywhere.
The visit highlighted how the CIPD Trust connects people professionals with local communities to offer employability support, from CV guidance and confidence-building to mentoring, helping more people move into work while supporting organisations to find the talent they need.
