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Press Release

32,000 facing redundancy helped as Insolvency Practitioners team up with Jobcentre Plus

19 May 2011

Ministers extend a voluntary partnership between Jobcentre Plus and Insolvency Practitioners today that has so far helped 32,000 employees facing redundancy to find new employment, claim benefits and access training.

The 'Memorandum of Understanding' is an information sharing initiative initially set up by Phil Wilson, MP for Sedgefield. It facilitates close working between R3, the trade body for Insolvency Practitioners and Jobcentre Plus. Under the initiative, Insolvency Practitioners give 'early warning' of impending redundancies to Jobcentre Plus wherever possible, which helps the agency provide support to affected employees.

The Memorandum was originally signed in 2009 by Jim Knight and Ian Lucas, the Employment and Business Ministers at the time. There has since been routine information sharing and liaison between Jobcentre Plus and Insolvency Practitioners. A new Memorandum, aiming to foster yet closer working between partners, will be signed by Chris Grayling, Minister for Employment and Edward Davey, Minister for Employment Relations, Consumer and Postal Affairs.

Phil Wilson MP commented: "Losing a job is one of the most difficult situations people can face in their lifetime. It's essential that they receive the right information at the right time to help them access training, claim benefits and find new employment. The Memorandum has already helped support thousands of individuals and, with many businesses continuing to struggle, it will play a key role for some time to come. With cross party support and with the recognition of the new Government, the joined up working between Jobcentre Plus and Insolvency Practitioners can go from strength to strength, to the benefit of the employees that sadly pay the price of business failure."

R3 President, Frances Coulson added: "The insolvency profession sees the human cost of business failure on a daily basis. The Memorandum helps us to work with expert government agencies to ensure that those facing redundancy are given as much support as possible at a very distressing time."



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R3 The Insolvency Trade Body

R3 The Insolvency Trade Body

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