Welcome to Workwise

What is WorkWise?

WorkWise helps unemployed people access interviews and jobs by overcoming transport barriers to employment.

Who can access WorkWise?

WorkWise is aimed at unemployed people who are living within specific postcode areas. It is currently available for people living in Birmingham, North Solihull, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton. To find out if you are eligible for WorkWise, please click on the link below that covers the area where you live.

What does WorkWise provide?

Journey planning

Many people find reading timetables and planning routes for travelling to interviews and jobs very confusing. WorkWise can provide an illustrated step-by-step guide on the best way for you to travel from home to your destination and back. This helps you to broaden your job search by increasing your awareness of existing local public transport services near you.

Travel passes

If you are eligible for WorkWise, you can receive

One-day travel passes for job interviews.

Monthly travel passes for your new job.

Passes are available for train, bus and tram, depending on where you need to travel to work. They are valid throughout the West Midlands including Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton.

WorkWise currently operates from five areas in the West Midlands.

Birmingham

North Solihull: This covers North Solihull wards Chelmsley Wood, Smiths Wood and Kingshurst & Fordbridge, including postcode areas B36 and B37.

Sandwell: This covers thirteen priority wards in Sandwell.

Walsall: This covers the whole of Walsall borough. 

Wolverhampton: This covers the whole of Wolverhampton.

Future Developments

Starting as a small project in Nottingham, in 2003 WorkWise pilots were successfully developed and implemented in Birmingham and North Solihull.The proven success of these pilots led to the expansion of WorkWise to Walsall and Sandwell and now also to Wolverhampton. Plans are now underway for the development of the WorkWise elsewhere in the Black Country.

Past and present funders include Advantage West Midlands (EBNS Regeneration Zone), Centro, Birmingham City Council, European Social Fund, JobCentre Plus, Sandwell MBC, Solihull MBC Walsall MBC and Wolverhampton.

The expansion of WorkWise will enable more unemployed people in the West Midlands region to overcome the travel barriers to finding employment.

Achievements

WorkWise helps to overcome very real transport barriers experienced by people seeking employment. It has been a tremendous success, with achievements recognised both locally and nationally e.g. the 2007 Guardian Public Services award for Service Delivery (Transport category) and the National Transport Award (Accessibility Category).
A report by Social Exclusion Unit (Office of Deputy Prime Minister) "Making the Connections" cited WorkWise as best practice in 2004. These achievements are a result of the successful partnership approach favoured by Centro, the commitment of our partners and the significant success of the project to date. WorkWise is seen as a valuable asset, not only to the individuals assisted by the scheme but also to local communities and employers.

To date over 5,600 one-day passes have been provided to assist eligible individuals with travel to interviews and nearly 10,000 travel passes have been provided for people to attend jobs.

For general enquiries about the WorkWise initiative please contact Alison Pickett (tel 0121 214 7417 or email alisonpickett@centro.org.uk