Disability Confident Jobs Fair to ease work-finding challenge
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AN gefais fy ethol gan yr ynys fel eich Aelod Seneddol, addewais y byddwn yn gweithio’n galed i ddod â swyddi a chyfleoedd i Ynys Môn.
HEN the island elected me as your Member of Parliament I pledged to work hard to bring jobs and opportunities to Ynys Môn.
I understand that there can be complex local issues for local people seeking employment in coastal, rural and island communities like ours, including:
concerns that new employers may bring in outsiders rather than employ local people
access to permanent wellpaid employment rather than seasonal and often poorly paid jobs, and
identifying jobs that can be accessed by those who struggle to find work including older people, school leavers, those with caring responsibilities and people with disabilities.
Challenges like these are multi-faceted and difficult to resolve and I have set about addressing them at various levels.
In Westminster I fight Anglesey’s corner for investment and funding that will bring about long-term economic prosperity.
Over the past four years, Ynys Môn has received more than £80m in additional funding for opportunities like Anglesey Freeport and the Levelling Up project in Holyhead. This funding is based on the understanding that these projects will be sustainable in the long term.
They are not just providing a temporary facelift in our communities but used wisely should lead to a step change in local prosperity by delivering new job opportunities and helping local businesses grow.
The companies looking at establishing a base within Anglesey Freeport are large, well-established and committed businesses that see a real opportunity here. The multinational energy companies keen to set up on the Wylfa site will be here for the long haul.
I recognise local concerns that these companies might overlook local people when jobs are on offer. That is why I started my Local Jobs for Local
People campaign which dozens of both local and international companies have signed up to already.
By signing up, these companies are committing to employing local people wherever possible. They are committing to work with local schools, colleges and training providers. They are committing to deliver skills training so that local people can take the new jobs on offer.
My Local Jobs for Local People campaign highlights the importance of preserving and embracing our local culture and the Welsh language. I do not want to see local people being overlooked for local jobs because I want to see our communities survive and thrive – populated with all age-groups. I do not want to see any more of our young people leaving their families just because they cannot find decent employment on Ynys Môn.
This week in Westminster I will be leading a debate about employment in coastal and rural communities and emphasising both the challenges we face and the opportunities within our grasp.
It is important that these unique challenges are recognised and discussed by Parliament
because understanding them is critical to finding solutions to them.
You can watch the debate live – 3pm on Thursday 1st in Westminster Hall - or on catch up, on parliament.tv/commons.
The role of an elected representative should be to look at the bigger picture and fight for the needs of the people who elected them, but it should also be to make sure that they help people and communities on a personal level too.
That is why I am also helping people into employment by partnering with the local Job Centres and DWP (Department of Work and Pensions) team to deliver and support local jobs fairs.
Together we delivered a very successful Over 50’s Jobs and Opportunities Fair which was attended by more than 100 people and over twenty businesses. I was delighted with the positive feedback from that event.
Next week we are partnering again to deliver a Disability Confident Jobs Fair on Friday 9th February from 10am to midday in Holyhead Town Hall.
Disability Confident is a DWP scheme which encourages employers to think differently about disability and take action to improve how they recruit, retain and develop people with disabilities.
It was developed by employers and disabled people’s representatives as a rigorous but easily accessible scheme which delivers a unique opportunity for employers to lead the way in our communities.
Disability Confident aims to change attitudes, cultures and behaviours, as well as giving employers the knowledge, skills, and confidence they need to attract, and help people develop in the workplace.
Our Disability Confident Jobs Fair will help by connecting disabled people with employers and employers with disabled people.
Good employment is the best way to raise living standards and we want to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to enjoy a rewarding and well-paid working life whether or not they have a disability.
The UK Government aims to help as many disabled people as possible to enter and succeed in employment so that we can all contribute to the growth and wealth of our country.
We want to leave behind the misconceptions and stereotypes that block access to work for disabled people and make sure that employers have access to workplace adjustments to make jobs accessible.
The disability employment gap has closed significantly in the past ten years.
The Conservatives made a commitment in 2017 to see one million more disabled people in employment and last year we achieved that through schemes like Disability Confident – four years ahead of target.
The employment rate for disabled people is now 54% and 83% for people who are not disabled.
I am proud and honoured that the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, the Rt Hon Mel Stride MP, has accepted my invitation to open next week’s jobs fair and meet with local employers and jobseekers.
He will also be travelling with me to Amlwch to officially open the town’s new Job Centre which I worked with DWP Ministers to deliver.
A range of employers and businesses will be on hand including House of Linen by Zest, Anheddau, Hafan y Môr, Llechwedd Meats, Môn CF, Maximus, RCS, PIWS, Menter
Mon Enterprise Hub, Disability Advocacy Services, Integrated Autism and Anglesey Council.
If you are disabled and registered with your local Job Centre, then you should already have received an invitation to the event.
If you have not done so or you are not registered but have a disability and would like to come along please complete the form on my website [https://www.virginiacrosbie. co.uk/events/disability-confident-jobs-fair] or email me and I will be in touch. Thank you.
I enjoy meeting as many constituents as possible, as well as helping individuals, groups and organisations with problems, projects and ideas. You can contact me at virginia. crosbie.mp@parliament.uk or call me on 01407 644645. Diolch yn fawr.
Rwy’n mwynhau cyfarfod â chymaint o etholwyr â phosibl, yn ogystal â helpu unigolion, grwpiau a sefydliadau gyda phroblemau, prosiectau a syniadau. Yna cysylltwch â ni byddwn wrth fy modd ynclywed gennych - gallwch gysylltu â mi ar virginia.crosbie.mp@ parliament.uk neu ffoniwch fi ar01407 644645. Diolch yn fawr.