West Midlands Trains has announced that it will be offering jobseekers free travel whilst looking for a job on all of its London North Western and West Midlands Railway services.
The scheme is due to be introduced by the end of the year and will provide extra support for university graduates and those who have been unemployed for over six months.
Under the new scheme, university graduates and anyone graduating from a higher education equivalent will be able to claim six free standard return tickets on the network for journeys to and from interviews, and three months free travel to and from their place of work after securing a job.
The same benefits will be available to anyone who has been unemployed for a long time.
The rail industry is currently making efforts to assist people getting into work. Recent research by the Rail Delivery Group has revealed very low levels of use outside of London and the South East of the ‘Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount Card’.
The card is issued by Job Centres, it is offered by all train operators in Britain and gives people 50% discount on rail journeys if they claim Jobseekers Allowance or Universal Credit.
What did the officials say?
Andy Camp, commercial director at West Midlands Trains, said: “Finding a job can be a very pressured process and the last thing anyone wants is to be worrying about organising travel to and from interviews.
“Our aim with these schemes is to help those who have been out of employment for some time to get back on their feet, and support graduates making their first steps into the world of work.
“Rail travel is essential for a significant number of people travelling to interviews and commuting for work. The breadth of our network and fast links between towns and cities means that taking a train is often the most efficient way to travel. We’re hugely proud and excited about being able to support our customers in this way.”
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