More than 230 people attended a jobs fair in Liverpool city centre and 65 of them were offered a job there and then. Tony McDonough reports

A jobs fair held in Liverpool city centre saw 65 people out of more than 230 people who attended offered jobs on the spot.

Organised by the DWP at the Jobcentre in Duke Street on February 10, the event brought together 25 employers to offer full-time positions, Kickstart opportunities, apprenticeships, Sector-Based Work Academies and training.

As well as the 65 people offered jobs on the day, many more secured second interviews a and taking away application forms to complete. DWP will hold another jobs fair air the same location on Thursday, February 24. This will specially focus on Kickstart opportunities before the scheme’s cut-off date on March 1.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak unveiled the Kickstart scheme in summer 2020 as part of his Plan for Jobs. It offers fully-funded six-month jobs placements for young people aged 18 to 24 who are in receipt of Universal Credit. It offers either Minimum or National Living Wage. Each placement guarantees at least 25 hours a week.

DWP has also launched the Way To Work programme in the North West. It has been launched to help fill record numbers of vacancies at pace, supporting ‘job-ready’ people into the labour market and helping them progress into a career, with a goal to get 500,000 benefit claimants nationally into jobs by end of June. 

Way to Work will support people back into work faster than ever before and filling vacancies more quickly. They will be supported in this with more time spent face to face with a Work Coach to receive better, tailored support.

Latest data shows that as of January 13 there were 168,180 people in Liverpool, Wirral, Knowsley, Sefton, St Helens and Halton, in receipt of Universal Credit – a rise of just under 0.4% from 167,537 on December 9.

Knowsley saw the biggest percentage rises in UC claimants, up 0.9% to 18,423. Both Liverpool and Halton saw rises of 0.4%, up to 59,544 and 15,392 respectively. Next was Wirral, up 0.3% to 30,158, Sefton up 0.2% to 25,812 and St Helens up 0.1% to 18,423.

DWP is also working in collaboration with CE Initiatives, which has secured funding through Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership to support BAME Residents, to deliver a  seven-week project.

Called Weapons down Gloves Up, it is being supported by Liverpool Mayor Joanne Anderson and is running as a Sector Based Work Academy programme, which will include four weeks of coxing coaching in No Limits Gym, during which time participants receive a Weapons Down Gloves Up hoodie and their own gloves.

Participants also achieve a Customer Service Qualification funded over eight-and-a-half-days and embedded into the boxing coaching. Additional training provided includes obtaining CSCS Construction Licence and Careers Industry Training in Civil Engineering with guaranteed interviews. 

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In Wirral, DWP is working with The Poppy Factory, which is an independent support organisation for ex-forces and veterans and particularly supports those with health conditions.

It will assist veterans to move into work, ensuring consistent ongoing support is provided after employment starts, to help maintain the job role. As well as identifying suitable employment opportunities, employer advisers are working very closely with their colleagues to assist with other areas of support.

These include training, access to Flexible Support Fund to help start work and mentoring support from a dedicated Work Coaches.

Nicki O’Connor, senior operations manager at DWP in Merseyside, said: “Our dedicated Work Coaches in Merseyside are working flat out to help people get back into work, as we bounce back from the pandemic.

“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, is that 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%.”

There are also a a number of bespoke training opportunities to prepare customers for work in sectors with skills shortages including:

• Eight Sector-Based Work Academy Programmes to support people into roles within administration, warehousing, care sector and civil service roles.
• Four Sector-Based Work Academy Programmes to support people into roles within the construction sector, with CSCS included as part of the training provided and roles available at Port of Liverpool, Continental Landscapes, Amberon and a number of fibre-optic installation employers.
• There are a range of jobs available at the moment across a number of NHS Trusts in Merseyside available through www.jobs.nhs.uk.
• Tuffnells based in Haydock and St Helens is looking for warehouse operatives and 7.5 tonne vehicle drivers.
• B&M in Speke is looking for a number of warehouse operatives.