Jobs Boost from Council

8.21.37pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 14th Sep 2005

Joint Administration's Commitment to 'Narrowing the Gap' shown in job creation plans ………………

At this afternoon's meeting of Leeds City Council Cllr Mark Harris, Lib Dem Leader of Council, and his colleagues announced a series of projects to offer increased employment opportunities through the Council.

Plans were announced which will increase the number of job and job training opportunities directly provided through the Council by 90%. These will include :

• a Call Centre Training Academy, which will be located within the Council's new Call Centre and provide training for up to 36 job seekers per annum;

• additional courses and places at the Council's Building Training Academy which will help to meet the demand for skilled construction and building workers across the City;

• a new Junior Job Guarantee Pilot Scheme launched in conjunction with three High Schools across the City which will provide pupils with an alternative to academic courses of study with work experience and training leading to a guaranteed place with the Council on a new apprentice scheme;

• an increase in the Council's own Job Guarantee Scheme

Cllr Harris also announced that record numbers of job seekers were using the Council's Job Shops, in particular the new Job Shop attached to the One Stop Shop on Great George Street. Over a thousand people had registered for job advice at this one location in the last year.

Cllr Harris said "these increases add up to 90% more places being provided to people who have difficulty accessing employment opportunities. We are determined to work on 'Narrowing the Gap' between the most deprived communities and the most successful ones. With these schemes we are 'putting our money where our mouth is' as they say; and showing that we will look at every possibility in both improving the economy of the City and helping those most deprived members of our community."