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Free Recruitment Support Available to UK Businesses Through Jobcentre Plus
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has launched a national campaign to offer UK businesses access to no-fee specialist recruitment support through Jobcentre Plus. The service is available to all businesses, regardless of size or sector.
Over the last year, only one in five businesses has used Jobcentre Plus services for support. This may be indicative of a lack of confidence in the service being able to locate suitable candidates.
At the same time, over half of employers in a recent DWP Employer Survey reported difficulties in finding suitable candidates. With the average cost of filling a vacancy estimated by CIPD at £6,125, it could be worth considering trying out the service.
Who Can Benefit?
The campaign is particularly focused on sectors with high vacancy rates, including:
- Manufacturing
- Logistics
- Retail
- Hospitality
- Health and social care
- Construction
However, the service is open to all employers, whether they’re recruiting for one role or many.
To find out more and access support, visit the Business.gov.uk website.
UK businesses are facing a “cost of business crisis”, according to the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC). Its new cost-stack calculator shows government policy alone has pushed up an average firm's expenses by 70% over the past decade, adding roughly £827,000 a year in costs for a typical mid-sized business. About a quarter of the rise stems from the increase in employer National Insurance contributions, with the higher minimum wage and mandatory pension auto-enrolment also major contributors.
Under Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax, sole traders and landlords with income of more than £50,000 have been required to keep digital records and send quarterly updates to HMRC since 6 April 2026.
