Award-winning Jobseeker support goes online

Jobseekers in the West Midlands can now access award-winning support anytime, anywhere - with WorkWise Online http://www.networkwestmidlands.com/information-for/jobseekers/, the first scheme of its kind in the country.

The ground-breaking programme, which offers free public transport tickets and expert journey planning advice, is run by the sustainable travel team at Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).

It is available at http://workwise.networkwestmidlands.com/Home/Step0<http://workwise.networkwestmidlands.com/Home>. Open the ‘Free four week travel pass' tab and click on ‘Apply online'.

WorkWise was introduced in 2013 with the aim of removing travel barriers for people trying to get back into work, linking up with Jobcentre Plus (JCP).

It proved extremely popular and gained nationwide recognition as a best practice way to deliver travel support for unemployed people, capitalising on a particularly effective working partnership with JCP.

Lead member for fair and safe travel on the authority's Transport Delivery Committee, Cllr Judith Rowley, explained the team was keen to move it onto the next level, with an online offer.

Cllr Rowley said: It was the natural next step in the context of today's technology and the sustainable travel team and our IT team in the WMCA have put a lot of effort into developing this online access.

Now it has gone live and West Midlands people can use it anywhere they have internet access.

It speeds up the process and means we can support even more unemployed people in finding, starting and staying in new jobs.

"We are working closely with local JobCentre Plus offices to help promote and spread the word and information is available on the Network West Midlands website

To date the WorkWise free travel offer has helped more than 27,000 people in the West Midlands find and stay in employment and over 12,000 people to attend job interviews.

The Department for Work & Pensions-sponsored special award last year recognised Centro's support for jobseekers via both its WorkWise and Prince's Trust schemes.