Personal advisors
About the Directory
The directory is an online database that provides a single point of access to information on ESF funded skills and employment services for unemployed and economically inactive individuals across London.
It contains the latest available information on ESF provision funded by the Skills Funding Agency, National Offender Management Service (NOMS), London Councils and the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP), including the new Work Programme provision in London.
The directory is designed to help frontline advisors to find services to support individuals back to work. It builds on and enhances the Directory of Employment Services developed by the West and East London City Strategy Pathfinders.
Using a range of criteria, advisors can use the directory to search for services, ranging from basic skills support to intensive job search assistance, delivered anywhere in the capital.
The directory also has a Partnership Portal, enabling organisations to share their details and search for potential partners in the delivery of skills and employment services.
Search for Services
Quick search
The quick search will enable you to find skills and employment services for your client either within their borough or near where they live (by specifying a postcode).
Example 1: Postcode Search
If you’re based in Shepherds Bush (W12) and you’re looking for a programme within walking distance from your house, you can enter W12 into the postcode search area and then select the ‘search’ button. You can also tick any of the advanced search options for more specific results. The results will then display in order of the programmes that are closest to your location. The distance in kilometres is also displayed.
Example 2: Borough Search
If your client wishes to attend a training or employment programme in a specific borough in London, the borough search is a tool you can use to locate programmes by borough. There is a dropdown list of all of the London boroughs within the search panel. Select the borough you wish to search for programmes in, then hit the ‘search’ button. The results returned will only contain programmes that are delivered within the chosen borough. You can also tick any of the advanced search options for more specific results.
Example 3: Keyword Search
The third option in the search tool is a keyword search. This searches within specific fields for each programme. Enter the key word you wish to search for and then select the ‘search’ button. The results returned will all contain the specific keyword within one of these fields: services offered, organisation name, description and programme title.
Advanced search
The advanced search enables you to search for services using more specific criteria:
- Information, Advice and Guidance Services
- Employment Services
- Training Services
- Training for Work in Specific Sectors
- Services that Offer Specialist Support for Specific Client Groups
- Services for Employers
Simply click on the arrow to find more options within each category and tick the relevant boxes. You can tick as many boxes as you need to in order to help you to find the right type of provision for your client.
Search Results
When doing a search for services using a post code, results will be ranked in order of the programme nearest to the specified post code at the top of the list. If using a borough search for particular services then results are displayed in the following way:
1) Based on the Programme being offered in the borough chosen;
2) The Provider location i.e. where the service provider is located closest to where the programme is being offered;
3) Alphabetically by programme name.
How can I refer the client?
By selecting a programme from the results list you will be taken to the programme details page, which provides information about the services offered and any specific eligibility criteria that may apply. The provider’s contact details and address will also be available. If you have not found what you are looking for press the ‘back to search’ button and you will be taken back to the results page.
Events
This section of the website lists events relevant to skills and employment issues pertinent to London. Any organisation can request to publish their event on the website by emailing esfdirectory@london.gov.uk and requesting for an events form. Please ensure that you allow sufficient time for details to be reviewed and uploaded to the site ahead of your event.
London Skills & Employment Observatory
The London Skills & Employment Observatory (LSEO) is the central source of information, research and data on all skills and employment issues for London. You can access information on the latest labour market data at a London level and a range of skills and employment research reports. Click on the LSEO tab to be taken direct to the website.
What is the links section?
The links section provides a listing of websites of other public services.
How can I contact the website administrators if there is a problem?
If you have a technical question or are having problems accessing the site please contact directoryhelp@panlogic.co.uk
For further information on the directory or partnership portal please contact the European Programmes Management Unit at the Greater London Authority: esfdirectory@london.gov.uk.
Providers
Register onto the Directory
Registration onto the London Directory of ESF Skills and Employment Services is currently restricted to organisations funded by ESF and/ or delivering the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Work Programme in London.
You will need to register to set up an account. This will create a profile about your organisation and enable you to upload, edit and delete information about your programmes.
Create a provider account
To set up an account follow the steps below:
- If you are a lead provider or prime contractor the web link to the registration page should have been sent to you by your respective ESF co-financing organisation contact (Skills Funding Agency, DWP, National Offender Management Service, London Councils and Greater London Authority). Delivery partners and/ or sub-contractors can obtain this link via their lead provider or prime contractor.
- Once you have received the link, click on it and complete the online registration form with information about your organisation. Details required include your main organisation address, the type of provider you are and your delivery location(s).
- You can also register to include your organisation’s details onto the Partnership Portal by ticking the box ‘I would like to register onto the ESF Partnership Portal’. The Partnership Portal form is part of the main registration form and will display once you have checked the box detailed above. Further details about the portal are available in the ‘How to…’ section under the Partnership Portal tab.
- On the last page of the registration form you will need to create a username and password. Your password must be a minimum of 6 characters long and include one non-alphanumeric character e.g. use any characters that are not numbers or letters, for example !@#$%^&*+.
It is important that you keep your username and your password safe as you will need them to log in to view and edit your information.
Profiles created by a user can only be edited using the username and password issued to that specific user. When creating a profile, you should ensure that the username and password for that account are shared with any individuals who may need to access the account.
How do I log into my organisation’s profile?
You can log in by using the link ‘Log in’ that appears on the top right hand corner of the page. You will need to enter the username and password you created when you first registered.
Editing your organisation’s profile
Once you have logged into your account you will be taken to your company profile page where you can view and edit your profile. If you’re not directed to your profile you can navigate to it by clicking on the profile link which can be found in the admin bar at the top of the page.
This link will take you to a page that enables you to edit each category of your organisation’s details by clicking on the respective tabs: Contact Details, Organisation Details, Partnership Portal (you will only see the Partnership Portal tab if you’ve registered onto the portal).
Once you have edited all your information press save (at the bottom of the page) and this will update your profile.
Uploading information about programmes
A programme is defined as a service that is delivered by your organisation. Some projects may have a number of delivery partners delivering all or part of the service. It is up to the lead provider or prime contractor to determine the best method for ensuring that information about services delivered by partners or subcontractors is available on the directory.
Once you have logged into your account you will be taken to your company profile page where you can view and edit your profile. If you’re not directed to your profile you can navigate to it by clicking on the profile link which can be found in the admin bar at the top of the page.
To add a new programme you need to select the ‘Add a new programme’ link at the top of the page. Please ensure that you complete the details under each tab by ticking the relevant boxes. You need to complete information about your programme, delivery location, the type of services offered and eligibility criteria.
Once you have completed all of the tabs save the information and your programme details will then be published on the directory.
Remember the more detailed information you provide about your programme the more useful this information will be to a personal advisor.
How to edit your programme
If you need to edit information about a programme, first you’ll need to log into your account. Select login from the top right hand corner of the screen and enter your login details. Once you have logged into your account you will be taken to your company profile page.
To edit a programme select ‘Edit Programmes’. You will be taken to a page which lists all your programmes. To update a programme select it by clicking on its name. You will be taken to a page that displays all the programme details across four tabs (Programme Details, Location Details, Service Information, Eligibility Criteria)
Once you have updated your information remember to press save. Edits that are not saved will not show on the directory.
How to delete a programme
If you need to delete a programme, click on ‘Profile’ and then ‘Edit Programmes’ to see a list of these. There is a delete button next to each programme. Click delete to remove the entry.
You will be asked to confirm “are you sure” you wish to delete. Following your confirmation your selected programme will be removed from the system.
Information on the directory needs to be current and relevant and therefore deleting details which are out of date is an important part of maintaining your organisation’s profile.
How to access your account if you forget your username or password
If you forget your password you can retrieve it by selecting the ‘Forgotten Password?’ link which can be found at the bottom of the log in screen. Once you’ve selected the link you’ll need to enter your username followed by the answer to the secret question you set up when you first registered. Following this a temporary password will be emailed to you which you can use to log in. Once logged in you can change your password to something more memorable by selecting the ‘Change Password’ link from the admin bar at the top of the page.
If you have lost both your username and password you’ll need to contact support at directoryhelp@panlogic.co.uk
Register onto the Partnership Portal
The Partnership Portal enables organisations delivering skills and employment services in London to share their details and search for potential partners. The portal is open to organisations of any size, from any sector, who may be interested in finding new partners or sub-contractors. You can search for partners based on a range of criteria. For details on how to register click on the Partnership Portal tab on the ‘How to’ page.
If you are running an event you can publicise it on the directory. The event needs to be relevant to the skills and employment agenda but could be aimed at any audience.
Please email esfdirectory@london.gov.uk and we will send you the events form. Complete and return the form and we will upload your information onto the events page. Your event will also be publicised on the Directory homepage.
How can I contact the website administrators if there is a problem?
If you have a technical question or are having problems accessing the site please contact directoryhelp@panlogic.co.uk
For further information on the Directory or Partnership Portal please contact the European Programmes Management Unit at the Greater London Authority at esfdirectory@london.gov.uk.
Partnership Portal
The Partnership Portal enables organisations delivering skills and employment services in London to share their details and search for potential partners. The portal is open to organisations of any size, from any sector, who may be interested in finding new partners or sub-contractors. You can search for partners based on a range of criteria.
Register onto the Partnership Portal (Existing Users)
To add your organisation’s details onto the Partnership Portal you need to register. If you are an ESF funded provider and have an existing account you can add your details by ticking the box ‘I would like to register on the ESF Partnership Portal as well as the directory’ at the top of the registration page. This check box is visible either when you register the first time or when you log in and select to edit your organisation details.
Register onto the Partnership Portal (New Users)
If you are a non ESF funded provider and do not have an existing account on the directory, you need to register from the Partnership Portal page and complete the form. Once you have registered save your details. You will need to create a username and password. The password must be a minimum of 6 characters long and include one non-alphanumeric character e.g. use any characters that are not numbers or letters, for example !@#$%^&*+.
To make changes to a profile you have already created, you need to log in and go to Profile in the admin menu at the top of the screen. Then select the tab you wish to edit (Organisation Details or Partnership Portal). When you have finished select ‘Save’ at the bottom of the form to save the updated profile.
There is a quick search that enables you to search for partners based on a range of criteria. This includes the ability to search for partners based on funding and contract type experience, supply chain expertise, expertise working with particular client groups, the boroughs they deliver services in, and the type of services delivered. Click on the arrow to expand the search options and tick the relevant boxes. There is also a keyword search that will perform a search against ‘Types of services delivered’ and ‘Organisation name’.
Search Results
The search results will display a list of organisations in alphabetical order that meet the chosen search criteria. Click on the name of the organisation to see the full details for that organisation, including a short description of services delivered and a named contact for enquiries about partnership opportunities.
How can I contact the website administrators if there is a problem?
If you have a technical question or are having problems accessing the site please contact directoryhelp@panlogic.co.uk
For further information on the directory or partnership portal please contact the European Programmes Management Unit at the Greater London Authority: esfdirectory@london.gov.uk.
