More than 500 sign up to Universal Credit in a month
STEEP RISE IN CLAIMANTS DUE TO IMPACT OF CORONAVIRUS
THE number of people claiming Universal Credit in North East Lincolnshire increased by 524 people in just one month.
In new stats released by JobCentre Plus in Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire has had a steep rise in claimants, due to the impact of Covid-19.
The data, which covers the month leading up to November 12, shows Universal Credit claimants rise from 17,809 to 18,333, significantly higher than the 11,705 claimants on March 12.
Nick Gregory, the Employer and Partnership Manager of Grimsby’s JobCentre, believes that this is due to the impact of Covid-19 on the hospitality sector.
In October and early November, the country was being moved into a second national lockdown, with North East Lincolnshire temporarily being placed in Tier 2 restrictions shortly before that.
Nick said: “It’s no great surprise with the impact of Covid-19 on jobs and a second lockdown being put in place. The hospitality sector has been heavily hit throughout the pandemic.
“With our area being heavily based on hospitality and the industry being much more heavily impacted than others, I think a lot of it is down to that.
“But with the furlough scheme being extended, it has most certainly saved some jobs, and hopefully we will see the sector recover going into the new year.”
To offset the damage caused by the coronavirus, the JobCentre is putting in a number of schemes and workshops to help the area get back into work.
Nick said: “One of the newest schemes we have to help with jobs is our Kickstart Scheme, which provides fully paid work on national minimum wage for up to 25 hours a week for young people in the area. “We are working with a number of local businesses and gateway organisations such as North East Lincolnshire Council to provide as many jobs as possible.
“There will be up to 550-600 jobs for 16 to 24-year-olds, which provides them with that first step into full-time work and provides them with a six-month placement.
“As well as that, we are working with Hilton Seafood Grimsby to offer a five-day workshop for people starting on January 11.
“It provides you with practicalbased skills which are vital to work in the production sector over the five days.
“On the Friday, at the end of the workshop, everyone is guaranteed an interview and there are 25 permanent full-time jobs available at Hilton Seafood that they can get. “All people need to do is speak to their JobCentre work coaches to be booked onto the course. “We are also setting up an opportunity with Microsoft which will deliver three separate workshops that our customers can access virtually.
“They include building a professional CV, how to rock your LinkedIn profile, and preparing for job interview success.
“There are two lots of the workshops, which will run between January 19-21 and January 26-28. “It’s a great chance for people get their job hunt off to a good start in
The JobCentre is also offering extra support for people to find and stay in work, as well as boosting their opening days.
Grimsby’s JobCentre Plus is now open on Saturdays to provide people with more of a chance to get the support they need.
Nick said: “We are opening on Saturdays now so we can offer people enough chances to have meetings and access our services.
“We are also offering extra support for people to find and stay in work.
“Firstly, we have our Job Entry Targeted Support, which is for people out of work for three months or more.
“This is a tailored program which gives specialist advice on how to move into growing sectors, as well as providing CV and Interview guidance. “Secondly, starting in January, we are offering Job Finding Support, which is for people recently unemployed, up to 13 weeks.
“It is also a tailored program where people benefit from personalised support and advice to reenter work quickly.
“People are not having to wait around for support at the JobCentre, we are wanting to provide as much help and support as possible to get people back into work.”
We are also offering extra support for people to find and stay in work.
Nick Gregory, of
JobCentre