Redundancy and Recruitment Support

The impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Plymouth, the UK and global economies has been severe and has led to significant changes in demand across a number of sectors, and businesses big and small.  The COVID-19 crisis is posing unprecedented challenges, with many employers looking for long and short term solutions in a suddenly unfamiliar and rapidly changing business climate.

Since the start of the pandemic, the government has set out support measures for businesses and employers, put together to support you through COVID-19 and its effect on your business and staff. One of which being the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, designed to help businesses retain their staff.

However, we know that even with this support in place there are still businesses who are being impacted by COVID-19 and who are having to make changes to their workforce. Whilst some are having to face the difficult decision of redundancies, others are seeing gaps in the labour market appearing in sectors such as health and care, food retail, wholesale, and distribution due to increased demand.

In partnership, the Business Support Team and Plymouth People & Skills Team have united to create two specific arms of support, one for businesses and one for employees.

Working with local, regional and national partners they have created services and signposting to help businesses and staff who are looking at making redundancies, or indeed recruiting positions as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

Information and guidance for your business

Our Business Support Team have been crafting support for businesses and sector recovery throughout COVID-19. Ensuring responses not only offer recovery planning and strategic support to businesses’ recovery, but also fosters sustainable economic and social benefits. 

You may wish to have a look at some of support and resources available to all businesses below:

• Updates and links to national Government support schemes, such as the Job Retention Scheme, loans and tax relief.
• There is also support and specialist advisors at the Heart of the SW Growth Hub  and the  Department For Work & Pensions,
• Information can also be found on appropriate sector specific grant schemes and funding opportunities
• There is also other funded, tailored training to support individuals and businesses via services and projects such Skills Support for Redundancy (SSR) and through On Course South West.

The government is continuing to update information on support available to businesses. You can also use the business support finder to see what support is available from the government for you and your business.

Request for support

If your business is in need of additional support, and/or speed of response is of response is crucial to your business, please get in touch by emailing invest@plymouth.gov.uk

Information and guidance for your staff

The restructuring of an organisation, and the decision to make redundancies, is a difficult process for employers and staff alike. Within Plymouth City Council People and Skills Team, there are many ways they can offer your staff support during these challenging times.

More information on the plethora of support given by the People and Skills Team can be found on the Skills Launchpad Plymouth website.