Fedcap Employment Reviews 

Cool experience.
Charlie helped me a lot with building my CV and taught how to write a cover letter. Supported me with seeking a job. I'll use his advice in the future in job interviews and negotiation with customers.

Fedcap are amazing at what they do at supporting there clients with finding a job and with mental health i have found it less stressful and very helpful i would highly recommend it to anyone to go along because with out fedcap i dont know where i would be so thank you fedcap

I was with Charlie didn’t get on then swapped to Michael what a lovely guy made me feel that I wasn’t useless of my age got my confidence up helped me no end done my cv for me he is an asset too your great company he is a proper professional understanding people who are victims of the system and giving peace of mind top guy 5stars

Aly, my advisor at the Reading Fedcap office, has been so supportive and helpful in my journey back into work. She was consistently available both at allotted appointments and on the phone outside of these times, which was very reassuring, and has always been professional, warm and approachable. Our meetings were long enough to properly discuss and evaluate potential opportunities, to talk through any problems I was experiencing and to work through these together. It felt like a very collaborative approach to finding work. Aly was accommodating of necessary changes to appointments or my need to bring my son along at times, which also helped to make the experience stress free.
Fedcap provided me with mental health/ wellbeing support when I needed it (Alistair was also very empathetic and suggested different techniques for managing my anxiety), as well as financial assistance for practical matters pertaining to starting work (transport, clothing, childcare), which really helped. They offer a number of workshops, courses and useful online tools, and utilising these made me feel like I was making some progress even before finding work.
I really want to thank the scheme and in particular my advisor, for all that it/ she has done for me. It was a very positive experience.

Fedcap have worked with me during an extremely difficult where I could not work for several months, and now are actively assisting me on finding me way.

In particular, Emily Weafer who is assigned to my case has been extremely kind,helpful and thoughtful in this time. My situation would have been a lot harder without this.

I look forward to continuing, and then when I have found employment I will continue to remember the assistance Fedcap have given me.

Last year I was assigned to fedcap, after not having a job for a while I was so nervous to go for interviews and even getting back into work, I was given Aly as my work coach and I honestly couldn’t of been happier, she was more like a friend to me then anything, she helped me so much with my cv, to helping me applying for jobs and when I got a job she still helped me with paperwork etc, I’m now back in work and the happiest I have been in a job.

The ever so amazing Kim F was assigned to me and I could not be happier!! I had no confidence in starting my own buisness and unsure of the correct avenues to take. Within a few months I knew exactly what I was going to do and even got potential clients. Now, not even a year into the programme I am successful and the happiest I have been in my work. She has passion, drive a solid communicator and has so much empathy. Kim helped me so much in such a short time, I will be ever grateful and won't forget her. I hope everyone else gets someone like Kim and appreciates the effort and extra mile she always gives.

FedCap support has been key in helping me land a good job going into 2024. After some months out of work I was very downbeat about the prospects about getting the type of job I had had previously. The provision of a laptop plus other financial support (to buy interview clothes) plus reimbursement for travel to and from the Fedcap offices has been key. The help in re-writing my CV was one of the most important facets of the support. None of this would have worked though if it wasn't for the support I received from my FedCap 'Coach' - Kim French. Kim's professionalism and positivity has been essential in my job search.

I asked advisor at the job centre if there was any extra support to help me get back to work as I have been unemployed for just over a year, I was then referred to Fedcap in Reading. On my first appointment I was introduced to my advisor Michael Hodgson who asked about my previous work experience and explained the support that was on offer,and arranged another appointment the following week. Following this meeting I emailed him my old CV which he offered to update and make it more relevant to the type of work I was looking for. The day before my next meeting and following a couple of phone calls I received for more information and details about my past jobs I was sent two CV's to check over. I was so impressed with what he had prepared it looked very professional and was laid out in an easy to read format with bullet points highlighting my skills and experience. Over the following weeks I enrolled on a number of courses they offer which I found informative and fun and was an opportunity to meet other people as well as changing my mindset about work and getting up at a regular time each day to attend. Seven weeks later having attended four interviews in a new suit provided by Fedcap and appointments made using a new phone again provided with Michaels help to replace one I damaged I start a new full-time job. I can't thank Fedcap and my advisor Michael enough. He gave me the encouragement and the means to find a job with the salary I need to cover my rent and a job which I have done previously that I know I'll enjoy. You get out what you put into these services so if you genuinely want to get back to work and need a bit of help and encouragement give this a try. My only regret is I didn't do this 12 months ago.

Fedcap has been really helpful with my job experience and has even gone the extra mile and given me help with my daily life. My advisor is also really caring and listens to my problems and what help i would like.

I agree with everyone else's comments. While some staff were great, others were not. There is a lack of professionalism and poor management.

There is no reason for the government to take taxpayer earnings to pay for this. There aren't any sympathetic staff here, as they are target-driven and frankly, the job centre wastes claimants' time by sending them to Fedcap. Despite the fact that they say the wellbeing facilitator will support you throughout the program, that is not true. Your emails are ignored after three sessions. It's mandatory, but I hate it. It is not possible to be on another work program while this one is in place. It's unbelievable how much mileage they pay. What a joke!!

I agree with everyone else's comments. I was very hopeful that Fed cap was going to help my son. The work coach was lovely and encouraging, but she left.
I contacted her manager, (Slough), for help with something that was promised (in writing), but he didn't contact me. I left various messages and emails, but nothing! Then I complained to customer service, and nice lady said she would send him an email That was 3 months ago. NOTHING. I agree with the person who says this is money-making for FED CAP and they don't care. It's about numbers, so they can look good, in my opinion. If things don't improve, the government should withdraw funding .

I find the whole experience with Fedcap, Guildford, very patronising. Most of the staff there talk to you like you are a naughty child that's been sent to the head.

I find they talk down on you, like you are an idiot. The many waste of time workshops are a joke, with their childlike pictures and graphics that wouldn't be out of place in an infant school.

My work "coach" recently asked for my indeed account details including my password so he could apply for a job on my behalf. He received a stern reply from myself.

The Guildford office is very over-staffed. Every time I've been, there are approximately 15 staff members sitting around joking to each other, many without the computer screens on.

I've been attending for over 6 months, and gained absolutely nothing from it. Apart from nice train rides through the Surrey countryside with my travel costs reimbursed on arrival.

A huge waste of government funding all round

Originally I didn't mind going to Fedcap as I was told it was to help with my self employment. This was just not true it was my universal credit work coach off loading me so they did not have to bother.....What does a twenty something man know about the trials and tribulations of a 60+ year old woman?!!!
As if the whole universal credit thing was not demoralising enough I now have to answer to another clueless person at Fedcap who obviously has medical training as despite me having a fitnote, they have managed to diagnose me themselves with something totally different!
When you are down why do the powers that be just keep on kicking?

I signed up to Fedcap employment about 6weeks ago and what a waste of my time and government money. Prior to signing up I kept going for job interviews and never getting hired, I explained this to Fedcap and they kept promising I could see an expert who could take me through the interview process to up my chances of getting employed. I explained that I hadn't worked since I had a bike accident in 1988 and that I had no CV in which I could rely upon.
Four times they’ve promised to give me interview training, and four times I haven’t been given it. Now after attending their offices numerous times, I’m left with no real prospect of passing an interview, and therefore no real prospects of getting a job, but this firm have profited by me signing up to them as they will have received government money for this, so they win at my loss, I hope this help anyone who’s attending the Livingston Branch in Scotland don’t waste your time because you’ll be like me nothing to show for all your efforts.

I going to write to my MP and explain that the government money is being wasted and would be better spent helping people get into work.

I really wanted this to work for me and the reason it didn't is all down to Fedcap employment.

These people are nasty as hell!
They pretend to my nice and show empathy but turn on you later!
I had health issues & was advised to get signed off, which i did. Then assigned to a health & wellbeing facilitator (always ignored my texts) said could help i Italy get my GP appointment & certain referrals i thought great. But then when i needed help with certain forms (kept asking me) saying i dont understand. Couldn't provide me with a reference as not a Qualified Healthcare Professional when i checked on their job advert it's clearly stayed you MUST BE. Then i was coerced into a phone chat with their manager, the job coach & facilitator. Of course defending each other. Also was blatant stitch up as manager said they in regular contact with a job centre, was never told this. Oh forgot to mention just before Xmas despite health issues they tried for me a job interview which i rejected (which they kept on saying i must go to, but i out my foot down. They after all this trying to persuade me it's in my best interests to have meeting with JC advisor & their manager & my Fedcap coach to discuss Action Plan movíng forward even though I'm still signed off! They ate a disgrace & also put me in pointless courses etc. Avoid at all costs. I've been with other agencies like these lot. All got hidden agendas and are all frauds who want ti screw you over.

I worked for this company. Some individuals are forced to visit FedCap by the JobCentre because of long-term unemployed; it’s for anyone who has been unemployed for over two years or more. If people refuse to participate they would lose their benefits, which means people *had* to attend.

What FedCap does is… nothing… except to upset the Apple cart. They don’t actually do anything to help people find a job, but what they *will* do is make sure they continue to receive their government funding by forcing people to attend irrelevant training courses and meetings, and they also have a 12 week review, which is a series of questions (the same ones used every 12 weeks) that have multiple choice options / answers. If an individual drops below (a 4 or a 5, for example) for any of the questions, FedCap staff eyes light up because they can send the jobseeker to see someone else… on another day… in between the monthly in-person meetings… for guidance. It was rubbish, and all part of collecting government funding.

But those "meetings" don’t actually help. Like I said, FedCap is government funded - it’s a quango. FedCap is also an American company. What are they doing in the UK? Perhaps it’s not dissimilar to parts of the NHS going private which down the line could be a disaster. Will the JobCentre one day go private and the contract be awarded to FedCap, which is not even a British company? It’s entirely possible.

So, the only way for FedCap to continue to receive taxpayers money, or more of it, is to start tightening the screws on people. The more extra meetings they get people to attend, the more opportunities for FedCap to claim more funding, and the more job security *they* have.

This is all about them, their continued funding, their own job safety, and the high rents paid in the high street that the UK taxpayer is absolutely unaware of. Plus, not forgetting the high cost of running FedCap as a business as a complete tax right-off.

Most importantly, how FedCap treats people is an as disgrace. For example, if someone doesn’t attend an extracurricular meeting that one of their staff recommends they will threaten the individual with sanctions to their benefits. And in this day and age, with prices shooting through the roof, it is an absolute disgrace.

We even lied to people telling them to send us a list of the jobs they had applied for so we could "directly contact the companies to follow up on their application and to gain important and helpful feedback". It was a lie. It is against an individual’s privacy policy and no HR department would divulge private information about an applicant or their application… unless it was the jobseeker themselves. We told utter lies. We did it as part of our tightening the screw exercise so that we could threaten sanctions on poor innocent jobseekers. The more we manipulated people, the more money FedCap was able to claim from the British government.

It was all extremely underhand, and was the reason why I stopped working there.

We had *training* courses where we were instructed to manipulate every individual who walked through our doors because forcing them to do something (they may not wish to do because it’s irrelevant) would gain more government funding.

The lies I saw every day was appalling and embarrassing.

What worries me is that they were granted access into JobCentres across the entire UK whereby FedCap staff could go behind the scenes and talk to the JobCentre work coaches, and we were able to gain access to some very private information about the jobseeker. We were trained in how to manipulate the work coaches so to get what we needed.

It won’t be long until someone is arrested both high up and at customer facing level. I urge someone to make an official complaint before it gets even more out of hand.

I was so looking forward to this as I read that people were helped by Fedcap restart programme. While some staff were great, others were not. There is a lack of professionalism and poor management. They are no help at all and made things far worse. They falsified what they were offering in the way of jobs, courses and opportunities, then lied about it when confronted. They don't show up for appointments, and avoid any responsibility for their actions. I also can't believe how dishonest and underhanded they are. It was shocking to see this kind of behaviour as 'normal'. They take great pleasure in causing harm to job seekers. I am sorry I ever had anything to do with them, never deal with this company. I urge everyone who has negative dealings with Fedcap to make a formal complaint, and get ICE (independent case examiner) involved. The more people who know what is really going on the better. Let's make a huge effort to get justice.

Depending on what department probably a decent company to work for. This company used to be working links that collapsed in feb 2019 I would recommend putting this into consideration and should have listened to my gut!