Campaign to make most of warehouse job opportunities

JOBCENTRES in Runcorn and Widnes are launching a “Get Into Warehouse” campaign. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) said the project is intended to make the most of the “large number of opportunities” in the sector.

As part of the scheme, Jobcentre Plus is working with major employers to run recruitment exercises and provide Sector Based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs) to offer training, work experience and a guaranteed job interview to support residents into these positions.

Employer advisers are also hosting information sessions for claimants, bringing in companies to discuss expectations in the sector, while work coaches are discussing the support available to help jobseekers into these roles, including training support to upskill and build experience and financial support via the Flexible Support Fund to assist with any equipment or clothes they might need to start work.

Gary Bell, of Jobcentre Plus, said feedback has been “excellent” from clients and firms and the sessions are expected to roll out for other growth sectors.

Other initiatives taking place include the Way To Work scheme intended to help 500,000 North West jobseekers back into employment by the end of June in the hope of filling a “record” number of vacancies quickly and supporting “job-ready” people into the labour market and a career.

SWAPs are also running in a wide variety of sectors ranging from admin, warehousing, care, and the civil service to construction.

Work is also available in the NHS, at Tuffnells in Haydock and St Helens and B&M in Speke.

The DWP said there was a small rise during the first month of the year in the number of Universal Credit claimants in Halton of 0.4%, up from 15,337 in December to 15,392.

Nicki O’Connor, DWP senior operations manager, said work coaches were “working flat out” to help people into work as the nation bounces back from the pandemic.

She said: “We want people to know we’re there for them, and that we’re working with local employers to identify and help fill their vacancies in all sectors, but especially key industries.

“The good thing is, there are jobs out there, and the latest figures show the number of online job adverts in the North West have risen by 19.2% since Covid-19.”

Mims Davies MP, employment minister, said: “Today’s figures show further positive signs of recovery, with unemployment continuing to drop and 436,000 people joining company payrolls since the start of the pandemic, a record high number of employees including more young and older workers.

“Through our Way To Work campaign we are making sure that anyone who is ready to work can get into a job faster than ever before, allowing them to progress to a fulfilling career, giving them financial independence as well as improved wellbeing.”