More jobs spell hope
LATEST figures released by Hull's JobCentre Plus show the organisation helped almost 1,000 people into employment during July.
The statistic shows that, despite the recession, people are finding jobs and are keen to head back into work.
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A job-seeker looks for vacancies on the centre's system.
Staff at the city's JobCentre Plus, where dedicated teams help people find jobs, are delighted with the figures.
As part of the Mail's Bounce Back campaign, we have been looking at the organisation's work.
John Duffill, who is district manager for JobCentre Plus, responsible for all of Hull and the East Riding, told the Mail: "It goes beyond the statistics for me and the team here – you are talking about people.
"When we look at those figures, they that show 980 people who were out of work in June have found jobs in July.
"That's people's lives changing for the better.
"I'm not saying we're out of the woods by any stretch of the imagination.
"But this is certainly a step in the right direction."
The centre offers a specialist approach to finding people employment, with a range of techniques at its disposal.
After an initial assessment, clients have regular meetings with advisors to decide their most suitable route into work.
They can be provided with training to help give them skills they may be missing, as well as grants for equipment and access to work trials.
During the past 12 months, Mr Duffill and his team have had to deal with a new set of problems presented by the collapse of local firms.
But they have seen the economy beginning to pick up and the numbers of jobs being advertised starting to grow again.
Mr Duffill said: "Although 2009 has seen an increasing number of closures and potential redundancies, the message from JobCentre Plus is that there are still vacancies in East Yorkshire and employers seeking suitable people to fill them.
"In July more than 770 jobs were notified to JobCentre Plus in the Hull area.
"Because vacancies are available through many other channels, the total number of jobs available is much greater than this.
"The unemployment picture in Hull and the East Riding changed when the caravan sector started imploding.
"We were looking at people coming on to the jobs market who have a different set of skills and need specialist help.
"There are people who have not been out of work for a long time.
"They need their CVs updating and refreshers about going for interviews. We can provide that sort of service as well as everything for people going into work for the first time."
As well as the long-term unemployed and those entering the market for the first-time, the organisation deals with other groups.
Mr Duffill said: "We offer a lot of support to get lone parents back into work.
"Advice can be offered about childcare centres and other provisions.
"We also advise people who have learning difficulties as well as other groups."
The team – who estimate they see more than 1,000 people a day – have a variety of methods for finding them work.
After their first meeting, clients are given training and support. If they can't find work after six months, the level of support increases.
The team are keen to stress people are better off being in work and not on benefits.
Diane Doncaster, outreach services manager at the Hull JobCentre Plus, said: "Our team has license to do what they can to get people back into work or to help them anyway we can.
"There was a case not so long ago about a woman who couldn't drive.
"She was working a few hours a week at a primary school.
"Another school offered her some extra hours as a cleaner but she said she couldn't get there although she desperately wanted to.
"She came to see us for help and we bought her a bike so she could travel between.
"It's this kind of thing we can do now – we can offer all sorts of things to people we wouldn't have been able to even a short time ago.
"Losing your job is always a frightening experience, particularly in the current climate.
"However, the modern JobCentre Plus service is able to provide help and support during this difficult time.
"We'll step in to help you look for work or learn new skills."
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by puzzled, east hull
Friday, September 04 2009, 10:23AM
“if the goverment stopped wasting money on middle men like A4E and used it to to pay a decent minimum wage, maybe those jobs that need minimum skills would be taken up.
and as for benifit busters on tv last night did i hear the proxy blond female they interviewed at the end,'' the system will never work whilst there are men in charge''
sexist or a man hater ?”
by Me looking 4 a job, Hull
Thursday, September 03 2009, 11:24PM
“Trojan Horse, Hull. You are totally correct in what you say! I find the staff polite, but aint got a bluming clue on whats what. I went to a place the other week after Job Cent made me an appointment, I wanted to learn how to become a sparkie, when I turned up at the place the Job Cent sent me..... thety just said "We are just a careers advice, we dont offer you work! The whole system is fecking useless.... no wonder so many people have been claiming since year dot! Get the staff trained 100%!”
by Mick, Hull
Thursday, September 03 2009, 8:36PM
“Dont know how many of you watched benefit busters last week on TV, But what a joke that was, Yet again this government seems hell bent on awarding silly contracts to the private sector like a4e which was a complete and utter farce!
This government has got the system all wrong, I cant understand why the government is making those who have just been made redundant after 10 or 15 years of service to do these silly courses!
Fact the government and their so called stats can`t be working i for one would be targeting those who have been on benefit for years! Not the ones who have a proven track record of working, Why not just leave them alone and let them get on with finding work!
When i visited the jobcentre the other week i informed one of these so called advisors, That a new plant raining centre has just opened on the old hedon road, When i asked if the jobcentre had inquired if they was going to enlist this company into the governments so called training package scheme the answer was no!
I asked why is this the case when the government had told on national media that these so called schemes were available as part of re`training, I was informed that the only scheme the government was offering for this area was a forklift licence to which i replied i had already got them.
I then found out this scheme had been running for the last 6 years and weekly for 50 weeks of the year. And by my calculation as hull as a population of about 300,000 that means a high number of forklift drivers that far out number the amount of vacancies for that particular job!
No wonder there is a skill shortage in this area with idiots like this in charge!”
by Trojan Horse, Hull
Thursday, September 03 2009, 7:13PM
“Having had a brief experience with JSP I can vouch firsthand for the lack of help, lack of jobs, and lack of motivated staff that will greet any would be job seeker who goes through the doors. 'All hope abandon ye who enter' should be emblazoned above the doorway”
by Disillusioned, Hull
Thursday, September 03 2009, 4:01PM
“I was made redundant and, taking the iniative, tried to get off JSA by starting up a cleaning company. Enquired about New Deal which gives you help info and an allowance until you are earning ... I was told I hadn't been unemployed long enough to qualify ?? OK I'll stay on JSA for 6 months and come back then shall I?”