The secretary of state announced the plans today in a speech outlining the latest round of welfare reforms. Under the new proposals, people claiming jobseeker's allowance will need to prepare a CV and hold weekly employment meetings with an adviser about how they are preparing for employment.
The Forum for Private Business head of policy Alexander Jackman told HR magazine anything that means unemployed people are better prepared for work is welcome. He highlighted the relationship that businesses, especially small business with fewer than 50 employees, already have with Jobcentre Plus centres.
"These relationships can last up to 10 years," he said. "It's important that [Jobcentre Plus] sends through candidates of a reasonable quality. If they send someone through who they have been trying to place for a while and who isn't up to the job it can destroy the trust in the relationship."
Jackman said that small business do not necessarily want someone who is fully up to speed, but they do need to be "presentable and possess the basic skills". "If they can do the job straight away, even better," he said.
Phil Orford, chief executive of the Forum for Private Business, said many small business see Jobcentre Plus as a "core recruitment avenue."
He added that this would become more important in the current climate, with a third of small businesses looking to hire this year.
