Yes, I have raised issue about having to go there, my first consultant let me do job searching from home, so I don't know if they've had a change in policy or if I'm just unlucky. She was sat with us as a group this week so the normal people sat around complaining and mucking about was not so bad. I'd rather be getting on with my training etc than traveling 6 hours a week

I've not read the whole thread yet, however I too have some Web development experience and have worked in IT all my career. I'm now into my 2nd year on the 'TWP' . It's not been all bad, they make sure that you get the basics done which is the best thing. I think you do need someone to be accountable to and a bit of coaching . When I was made redundant I was given an expensive out placement programme that TBH was not a lot better than the sort of thing you get for free at TWP . The main trouble I've found is that Maximus in Southampton now seem to have thrown their hands in the air and given up with me, since I've gotten a few months experience doing PHP development , this is just so far off their radar. They are more used to dealing with kids out of school who've never worked or people who've been on benefits for ever and have no intention of working or those who would be happy with a cleaning job in Tesco . ( not that I haven't applied for my fair share of menial jobs ) The staff are fairly stretched and try their best, but the most helpful people seem to move on pretty quickly in my experience and the people left behind are the zombie form fillers. I've been put on various generally dissapointing mandatory sessions , some of which you could do any way since they are freely available from charities etc. I agree that it's a bit of a waste of time, It takes me an hour to drive into Southampton and I think twice I've turned up there to find the person I was meant to be meeting had not even bothered to turn up ! I also find the Mandatory job searching really annoying. I have fibre internet and thousands of pounds worth of IT gear sat at home, and I'm sat there using defunct Windows thin clients that randomly share your session with other people! I think if it were a bit nearer and didn't involve going into Southampton 3 times a week it would be a lot better !