Published: Thursday 28th May 2020 | 7.09pm
With the unemployment figure for Cannock Chase District rising to 4.8 per cent in April’s figures, Cannock Chase Council is signposting those unemployed to local organisations for information and advice to help them get back into work.
The last time the District’s unemployment rate was this high was January 2010.
The Council works closely with organisations supporting businesses and the local economy including local enterprise partnerships and local colleges, all of whom – including the Council – will do all they can to help the area recover from coronavirus.
Among them is Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership which has launched a redundancy and triage service for those who have found themselves out of work, in association with the National Careers Service West Midlands. Details can be found at www.stokestaffsgrowthhub.co.uk/news/new-redundancy-and-recruitment-triage-service/
This service will match those recently made redundant with new work in sectors such as health and care, food retail, wholesale and distribution, which are currently experiencing growth.
If you have been made redundant or are at risk of redundancy you can contact the National Careers Service for free and personalised careers advice on 0121 296 5550 or email ncswmenquiries@prospects.co.uk to book a telephone appointment.
Qualified advisers from the service can help with CVs, interview techniques and a range of other job-finding services.
The Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership will be launching The Apprenticeship and Employment Triage Service on its website www.gbslep.co.uk shortly.
South Staffordshire College, which has a campus in Cannock, is developing programmes for the unemployed that will be `short and sharp with vocational elements` plus a range of four to 12 week programmes in specific sectors. It will be publicising further details in the near future. Its website, for further information, is www.southstaffs.ac.uk
With the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet West Midlands due to open in Cannock later this year, a Retail Skills Academy managed by Walsall College is training and supporting people interested in finding work at the Designer Outlet. More details on its course Introduction to Working in Retail (McArthurGlen) can be found at www.walsallcollege.ac.uk/Course/?CourseTitle=Introduction-to-Working-in-Retail-McArthurGlen-&courseid=332000852623324
Cannock Chase Council’s own job vacancies site can be viewed at www.cannockchasedc.gov.uk/council/jobs/jobs-and-careers. The Council is a partner of the regional job vacancies site www.wmjobs.co.uk which advertises public sector jobs from across the West Midlands.
The Council runs jobs fairs from time-to-time and when the situation allows and it is safe to do so, has plans to run another fair as part of the Designer Outlet opening.
It also produces an Economic Bulletin available on request from econdev@cannockchasedc.gov.uk which will be of particular interest to local businesses wanting to keep up with news and developments on the local economy.
Councillor Tony Johnson, Portfolio Leader for Economic Development and Planning said: “Sadly, there are many people who have lost their jobs as a result of this crisis and we all know about the millions of people who are currently being supported under the government’s furlough scheme.
“The Council is building up a picture of the difficulties being faced in the District as it reviews its plans and strategies to support the local economy. Its payment of business grants to eligible local businesses has now reached 92 per cent of all those qualifying and, as here, it is signposting people to get information and advice back into work. This is a real challenge but one we and our partners are responding to as a matter of urgency.”
Photograph:
Cannock Chase Council Cabinet Member, Councillor Tony Johnson, Portfolio Leader for Economic Development and Planning.