A4e
Encyclopedia
A4E is a training company based in the United Kingdom
. The company began in Sheffield
in 1991 to provide redundant steelworkers with training so that they could find new jobs. They now operate in ten countries, but retain a significant presence in the UK where they work with organisations in the public sector
such as the Department for Work and Pensions
.
who after graduating in engineering, joined her father's Sheffield based training company, putting unemployed steel workers through a getting-back-to-work course.
After the Labour Party
came to power in 1997, they introduced the back to work New Deal
service, for those on Jobseeker's Allowance
. Claimants of Jobseeker's Allowance are required to attend classes or risk losing their benefit. A4e is the largest provider of New Deal
services in the UK, and has contracts for the New Deal worth £80 million.
According to The Times, "A4e is a business consultancy that offers “ to make millions from the unemployed by treating them as a commodity ” to private and public companies." They are advised by David Blunkett
.
A4E are administrators for the Unemployment in the United Kingdom test. A4e are bidding for several large additional contracts from the UK government.
disclosed information regarding to a fraud investigation into A4E which was instigated after the Department for Work and Pensions uncovered discrepancies in its "confirmation of employment" forms - discrepancies which centred upon the falsification of employer's signatures by a number of recruiters. A4e's official statement read:
'All the matters raised in the article are known to both A4e and the DWP and have been the subject of both an A4e investigation and a DWP led investigation. The A4e investigation revealed that whilst candidates had real job opportunities, these jobs did not meet the funding criteria being less than 13 weeks and 16 hours a week in duration. These investigations have resulted in the departure of both individuals from the company and the ceasing of all activity with the employment agency concerned.'
In November 2010, A4e were fined £60000 by the Information Commissioner's Office for the loss of the laptop. Commissioner Christopher Graham, said that it "...warranted nothing less than a monetary penalty as thousands of people's privacy was potentially compromised by the company's failure to take the simple step of encrypting the data".
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The company began in Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
in 1991 to provide redundant steelworkers with training so that they could find new jobs. They now operate in ten countries, but retain a significant presence in the UK where they work with organisations in the public sector
Public sector
The public sector, sometimes referred to as the state sector, is a part of the state that deals with either the production, delivery and allocation of goods and services by and for the government or its citizens, whether national, regional or local/municipal.Examples of public sector activity range...
such as the Department for Work and Pensions
Department for Work and Pensions
The Department for Work and Pensions is the largest government department in the United Kingdom, created on June 8, 2001 from the merger of the employment part of the Department for Education and Employment and the Department of Social Security and headed by the Secretary of State for Work and...
.
History
A4e was started by Emma HarrisonEmma Harrison (entrepreneur)
Emma Harrison CBE is a British entrepreneur. She is the chairman, owner and founder of A4e . A graduate engineer , she has received honorary doctorates from the University of Derby and the University of Bradford....
who after graduating in engineering, joined her father's Sheffield based training company, putting unemployed steel workers through a getting-back-to-work course.
After the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
came to power in 1997, they introduced the back to work New Deal
New Deal (UK)
The New Deal is a programme of active labour market policies introduced in the United Kingdom by the Labour government in 1998, initially funded by a one off £5bn windfall tax on privatised utility companies. The stated purpose is to reduce unemployment by providing training, subsidised employment...
service, for those on Jobseeker's Allowance
Jobseeker's Allowance
Jobseeker's Allowance is a United Kingdom benefit, colloquially known as the dole . It is a form of unemployment benefit paid by the government to people who are unemployed and seeking work. It is part of the social security benefits system and is intended to cover living expenses while the...
. Claimants of Jobseeker's Allowance are required to attend classes or risk losing their benefit. A4e is the largest provider of New Deal
New Deal (UK)
The New Deal is a programme of active labour market policies introduced in the United Kingdom by the Labour government in 1998, initially funded by a one off £5bn windfall tax on privatised utility companies. The stated purpose is to reduce unemployment by providing training, subsidised employment...
services in the UK, and has contracts for the New Deal worth £80 million.
Present operations
Harrison remains the company's chairman, and appeared on The Secret Millionaire.According to The Times, "A4e is a business consultancy that offers “ to make millions from the unemployed by treating them as a commodity ” to private and public companies." They are advised by David Blunkett
David Blunkett
David Blunkett is a British Labour Party politician and the Member of Parliament for Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough, having represented Sheffield Brightside from 1987 to 2010...
.
A4E are administrators for the Unemployment in the United Kingdom test. A4e are bidding for several large additional contracts from the UK government.
International
A4E have operations in:- Australia
- France - work in Paris
- Germany
- Ireland
- Israel (operating as Amin)
- Italy
- Poland
- South Africa
- India
Fraudulent activities
On the 28th June 2009, The GuardianThe Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
disclosed information regarding to a fraud investigation into A4E which was instigated after the Department for Work and Pensions uncovered discrepancies in its "confirmation of employment" forms - discrepancies which centred upon the falsification of employer's signatures by a number of recruiters. A4e's official statement read:
'All the matters raised in the article are known to both A4e and the DWP and have been the subject of both an A4e investigation and a DWP led investigation. The A4e investigation revealed that whilst candidates had real job opportunities, these jobs did not meet the funding criteria being less than 13 weeks and 16 hours a week in duration. These investigations have resulted in the departure of both individuals from the company and the ceasing of all activity with the employment agency concerned.'
Personal data loss
On the 29th June 2010, A4e published a statement that an employee's laptop containing personal details of 24,269 people had been stolen. The employee's laptop was not encrypted, and was not recovered.In November 2010, A4e were fined £60000 by the Information Commissioner's Office for the loss of the laptop. Commissioner Christopher Graham, said that it "...warranted nothing less than a monetary penalty as thousands of people's privacy was potentially compromised by the company's failure to take the simple step of encrypting the data".