Runcorn & Widnes Weekly News

Drive to fill positions in hospitalit­y industry

- BY OLIVER CLAY

JOBCENTRE Plus has launched a drive to encourage Halton residents to consider a career in the hospitalit­y sector.

Dave Brown, of the Department For Work And Pensions, said jobhunters could stand to capitalise on a raft of opportunit­ies in places such as cafes, bars, restaurant­s, hotels and even airports.

An initiative targetting Halton is under way and work has been taking place with retailers such as Frankie And Benny’s restaurant and Marks And Spencer.

Speaking to coincide with the publicatio­n of the latest job statistics, he said there were no fresh figures for Halton for the more reliable ‘alternativ­e claimant count’ data, which factor in how Universal Credit’s introducti­on to the area in recent years and how it affects how employment is counted.

He said there were 2,094 jobseekers on unemployme­nt benefit in Halton in January, down 158 on the same month last year.

For the 18-24 age group, the claimant coujnt was 572, down 14 from January 2019.

Mr Brown said: “(They are) only small changes but but changes the good.”

He added: “In terms of what’s going on in the local area, there’s a national campaign which started on Monday last week (February 10), called Hospitalit­y Works to promote opportunit­ies in the hospitalit­y industry.

“They are many and various and a number offer excellent career programme opportunit­ies. “We’re in week two.

“In terms of what JobCentres are doing, they’ve been in touch with some of the outlets.

“They’ve bene working with Frankie And Benny’s who have agreed to host an event for staff in their premises to give a greater understand­ing of the opportunit­ies.

“Marks And Spencer have done a similar thing.”

You do not need to use a claims management company to make your complaint to your bank, and if your complaint is not successful you can refer it to the Financial Ombudsman Service for free.

 ??  ?? Widnes restaurant­s and retailers are involved with a programme encouragin­g people to choose a career in the hospitalit­y sector
Widnes restaurant­s and retailers are involved with a programme encouragin­g people to choose a career in the hospitalit­y sector
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