Later this month the DWP will be holding a two-day virtual jobs fair open to jobseekers from across the Liverpool city region offering more than 1,000 vacancies. Tony McDonough reports
More than 1,000 jobs, Kickstart opportunities and apprenticeships will be on offer at a virtual jobs fair being held this month.
On Thursday, January 27, and Friday, January 28, the DWP will be hosting the North West Works 4 U Virtual Jobsfair between 10.30am and 2.30pm each day. The event is open to all age groups.
There is a timetable of employers so people can just pop in and out of the event as they please. However, you must register to be able to take part over the two days of the fair. Click here for more information and to register.
Thrive Youth Hub, based on Preston Street in Liverpool city centre, are holding a range of events throughout January, including sessions to support young people into Careers with Merseyside Police (January 25, 12pm-2pm) and Careers in Sport (January 27, 12pm-2pm). The Youth Hub offers a range of employability support.
The Kickstart Scheme, supporting young people aged 16-24 claiming Universal Credit into paid work placement, is still going until March 31. In Liverpool city region the DWP is working with employers to offer Kickstart placements to fill any remaining opportunities.
DWP has until March 1 to make any remaining referrals to the opportunities before the scheme closes. Any young people interested in these opportunities can find them at https://findajob.dwp.gov.uk and searching for ‘DWP Kickstart Scheme’.
Latest data shows that as of December 9, there were 169,668 people in Liverpool, Wirral, Knowsley, Sefton, St Helens and Halton, in receipt of Universal Credit – a rise of 0.5% from 168,835 in November.
St Helens and Wirral saw the biggest percentage rises in UC claimants, both up 0.8% to 18,708 and 30,388 respectively. Next biggest rise was Sefton, up 0.5% to 26,044. Both Liverpool and Halton saw rises of 0.4% to 60,140 and 15,510 respectively and Knowsley saw the smallest rise, up 0.1% to 18,878.
DWP is also running a number of bespoke training opportunities in Merseyside to prepare customers for work in sectors with skills shortages including:
- Two Sector-Based Work Academy Programmes (SWAP) to support people into roles within various departments of the civil service.
- A SWAP to support people into roles within the security sector, with SIA training and badge included as part of the training provided.
- SWAPs available in construction, hospitality and warehousing.
- There are a range of jobs available at the moment across a number of NHS Trusts in Merseyside available through www.jobs.nhs.uk
- In the customer service sector there are opportunities at SERCO in Kirkby.
- Warehouse job opportunities available with large employers in the Merseyside area including B&M and Tuffnells.
Lynn Fell, Merseyside service leader for the DWP, said: “The New Year has focused our attention on recruiting for the key industries where the workforce has been depleted by the pandemic.
“Working in partnership with local employers in the NHS, and with care home providers for older and disabled clients, has given us the push to look target their needs by tailoring our recruitment and support practices – whether that’s through the Kickstart scheme, via the local Youth Hub or directly at the jobcentre.
“The new temporary jobcentres are up and running, and the extra work coaches are offering jobseekers with individual support. I’d encourage jobseekers to visit Find a Job and locate local vacancies.”