Options after redundancy

Facing redundancy and not sure what to do next? We can help you.

Being made redundant can be stressful, but it can also lead to new opportunities, like retraining, working for yourself, or a new career.

What is redundancy?

Redundancy is a type of job loss when your employer needs to reduce the size of the workforce. It could be that:

• Your job will no longer exist
• The department you work in is being shut down
• There are more of you doing the job than your employer now needs
• The company is closing through liquidation or other reasons

Funding support through ReAct+

If your job has been made redundant in the past 6 months or you are under current notice of redundancy, ReAct+ could fund up to £1500 towards training to help you get back to work. You might also get help with travel and childcare costs when you are doing a course.

To apply for ReAct+ funding for training, contact us to arrange an appointment.

ReAct+ is a grant programme that builds on the success of previous programmes and contributes to the Welsh Government’s Young Person’s Guarantee. Employers who would like to apply for recruitment and training support should contact Business Wales on 03000 6 03000.

Help with career planning

We can support you with your career planning. Book an appointment with one of our Careers Advisers. They can help you feel more confident about your next steps and could help you work out a backup plan if needed.

Things to think about when making career plans:

• What are your priorities for the future? Is it job satisfaction? Is it pay/wages? Is it work/life balance? Is it staying local? Or something else?
• Think about the skills you have that you could use in other jobs. You have transferable skills from every job you have done, and from life experiences. Take our Buzz Quiz personality test to understand more about your strengths, or browse Skills and Strengths for skills employers are looking for. Contact us for more support to identify your transferable skills
• Is there a job or career that you want to do? Use Job Information to find out about what the job involves including wages, routes in, and qualifications needed
• Not sure what careers interest you? Take our Career Match Quiz. Answer questions about your likes and interests to find out jobs that might suit you
• Find out what jobs are in demand in your area, or in Wales. Take a look at Future Jobs Wales to find out more about careers that are growing in Wales
• Is there any training that might help you get back into work? Use Course Search to explore training and courses. (If you are claiming benefits check with the Job Centre first before starting a course. You can usually do some part time study without it affecting your benefits and some courses may be free, or funded)

Help with CVs, applications and interviews

Do you have a CV? Are you confident about filling out a job application or attending an interview? Get help with getting a job:

• Creating a CV
• Writing job applications
• Interview techniques

Job Search support

Do you know where to find jobs? There are many ways to look for jobs including:

• Job websites
• Companies own websites, for example Employers Recruiting now
• Using social media to find a job
• Asking your contacts if they know of any opportunities
• Finding unadvertised jobs

Wellbeing support

If you’re made redundant, you might go through a range of emotions, such as worry, anger and stress. Or you might be feeling relieved if you’ve been thinking of a change in career.

However you’re feeling, redundancy can come as a shock when it happens. It can be hard to focus and make plans.

Here are a few tips to help you work through and move forward:

• Remember that it’s the job that’s being made redundant, not you
• Talk to someone you trust about how you’re feeling, especially if it’s stopping you from moving forward
• If the stress of redundancy isn't lessening, talk to your GP
• It’s definitely worth talking to a Careers Adviser at Careers Wales about your career plans. We can help whether you have no plans, vague plans or definite plans

Support with finances

Get yourself financially organised as soon as you find out about your redundancy. It can be harder to make good career decisions if your focus becomes money, rather than finding the right career.

Actions to consider:

• Make a budget to see if you can remove extra expenses. The Money Navigator Tool from MoneyHelper may be useful
• Check which benefits you could get at GOV.UK. Payments are often delayed, so get started quickly
• If you need pensions advice visit MoneyHelper – Pensions and Retirement
• Contact organisations like the Citizens Advice Bureau if you have concerns about money

Know your rights

Find out about your rights during redundancy:

• How your employer must consult you on Acas
• Your rights during redundancy on Acas
• Redundancy - your rights on GOV.UK

Your options

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