Press Release

Release Date: 16th March, 2009.
Growth in the number of people looking for work in today's economic climate has led to a huge jump in the use of digitally inclusive technology to search for jobs reports Looking Local, the TV and mobile based portal for local government services.

Last month, 26,000 people across the country used their TV remote to search for jobs via local government sites on interactive TV, recording a million hits on Looking Local job pages between them. Anyone with interactive TV can search for jobs in this way, whether or not their local authority has a presence on the Looking Local portal. This is a 350% increase on the traffic experienced this time last year.

An online survey of over 1,500 users of the service by Looking Local found that as many as half were searching for jobs daily and a further quarter accessing the service at least once a week. Of those surveyed almost a quarter (23.5%) had already found a new job through the service on TV and an additional 18% had completed applications for jobs but not yet been successful.

Looking Local has worked closely with Jobcentre Plus to extend the national job search service from the internet to interactive TV in order to make it available to those without access to a PC or broadband. 68% of respondents to this Looking Local survey confirmed they have no access to PC and broadband and would be unable to search for jobs electronically without the TV based service. A similar number of respondents (70%) explained that the significant benefits to them of using jobsearch via interactive TV were its convenience and ease of use.

Guy Giles, Operations Director for Looking Local, said "We are delighted that the jobsearch has proved so popular on Looking Local, especially since those using it to search for jobs are also realising how many local government services can also be accessed the same way. Many local authorities are already making housing services, payments and local Report it and Request it facilities available through the portal. They are really reaching out to digitally excluded customers. In the current climate, we are planning to expand the services available on TV to ensure that the needs of those most hit by the recession are not restricted to those that have access to the internet."

Notes for Editors:

Looking Local's interactive TV and mobile portal was Highly Commended at the National e-Government Awards in January for significant growth in usage by citizens choosing it to access local government services. It was one of only eleven public service organisations to be recognized at the award ceremony, all of whom were praised by Gordon Brown via video link for their major contribution to improved government services and progress towards digital inclusion targets.

Looking Local is a not for profit organisation wholly owned by Kirklees Council working on behalf of the local government community in the UK. It provides a unique and cost effective technology to publish local government services and is a key contributor to raising awareness and developing capability within the digital TV and mobile space.

Over 70 public sector bodies across the UK already subscribe to the Looking Local portal which they use to provide services and information via digital television and mobile to their customers and residents in areas such as transport, education, health, emergency services, job opportunities and public consultation. Local Authorities can provide content through feeds from their web-based services, and can include links to national information services available from Looking Local national partners such as Transport Direct, Jobcentre Plus and the Legal Services Commission.

They have recently added the Nintendo Wii to the number of platforms through which they can provide services, as part of a project to extend telehealth and telecare systems to include a range of new devices around the home. The technology will be used to help prolong independent living for elderly and chronically ill patients by creating a virtual community of connected carers and cared-for and by enhancing community based care and health information.