Guaranteed extra help for people unemployed for 6 months

NEW package of intensive support plus access to "Employers' Golden Hellos", new training places and cash to start-up your own business.  Jobseekers who find themselves unemployed for more than 6 months will be guaranteed more support, so they can get back into work, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions told an Employment Summit led by the Prime Minister.

The proposals, which will see £0.5bn invested by DWP and DIUS over 2 years, will be funded by hundreds of millions pounds of new money released by the Treasury and targeted at those who have been out of the job market for 6 months or more. 

As well as extra funds for Jobcentre Plus to provide every job seeker who has been out of work for 6 months more intensive and personalised support, the package will include giving individuals access to:-

* "Employers' Golden Hellos":- incentives of up to £2500 paid to employers to recruit and train unemployed people

* New training places:- extra funding for training places to help unemployed people get new skills to maximise their chances of getting jobs from the 500,000 vacancies in the economy

* Work-focused volunteering options:- opportunities to volunteer to help people back into work habits

* Help to set up a business - advice on creating a business plan, plus funding for the first months of trading

Prime Minister Gordon Brown, said:- "We will do everything we can to prevent the global recession turning into a global depression; prevent short term unemployment turning into long term unemployment; and to prevent losing your job meaning losing your home.  That's why we say 'invest not cut'. And that doing nothing doesn't help. It hurts more today, and worse still, it harms us for the future. For we say - invest to extend real help now to those who lose their jobs. And my message is simple: we won't give up on you; but in turn you must not give up on work, on skills, and on training."

This extra support is in addition to the £1.3 billion already being invested so that anyone who loses their job can access help and support on the first day they become unemployed and make a claim.

Speaking to employers at the Summit, James Purnell said:- "Today we have unveiled the next stage of help for jobseekers. There are still over half a million jobs available, and employers are still recruiting - we will do everything we can to get people into those jobs.  The half a billion pounds announced will be used to guarantee extra support to everyone who reaches 6 months unemployment - we are determined to provide real help to people in these tough times. Our message is simple, the longer a person is out of work the harder we will work for them."

Skills Secretary John Denham said:- "It is vital that we have a system that helps people quickly back into sustainable employment and keeps to a minimum the time people spend out of work.  But we need also to set our sights higher, making the return to work the stepping stone to a more skilled future, and that is why improving access to training a key part of our plans outlined this week."

Usdaw welcomes increased Government support for getting the unemployed back into work

SHOPWORKERS' union, Usdaw, is welcoming the Government announcement that £500million is to be invested in supporting the longer term unemployed back into work.

Under the measures to be introduced by April 2009, Jobcentre Plus will be able to award firms up to £2,500 for every person they recruit and train who has been out of work for more than 6 months.

John Hannett, Usdaw General Secretary, commented:- "Many workers are worried about their employment future as a result of the current economic problems. We have already seen employees, such as thousands of Woolworths staff, lose their jobs. These measures to support employment and encourage firms to recruit staff are very good news.

This latest announcement comes on top of a recent Government announcement of additional investment and support for Apprenticeships. Usdaw welcomes the package of measures which represents decisive Government action which is just what the economy needs at this difficult time.

The recession has already resulted in a number of high-profile retailers, such as Woolworths and MFI going into administration with the loss of thousands of jobs. At the same time, many of the very big retailers are reporting good sales figures. Usdaw is calling on all retailers not to rush in and make redundancies when most of the retail sector will survive the current economic difficulties.

We do face uncertain times in the economy and all workers should seriously consider joining a trade union to get advice and representation."

2009… THE YEAR OF THE O

OH… 2009 is quite literally going to be a great year for personalised registration lovers, that is thanks to the DVLA.  The agency will be using its six auctions of the year to sell its O-series of private plates; commencing with 1 O at the first three day event of the year geared up for Whittlebury Hall, near Towcester, Northamptonshire, on 28 January 2009.

2 O will go under the hammer at its second auction, being held at Ardencote Manor, near Kenilworth, Warwickshire, in March. This will be followed by 3 O in June 2009, 4 O in August 2009, 5 O in October 2009 and 6 O in December 2009.  The fact DVLA has set a £10,000 reserve on 1 O – seen by many private plate enthusiasts as arguably one of the last great registrations available from its 30 million-strong war chest – ensures its success when the gavel falls at approximately 9am on Friday, 30 January 2009.

1 O will be sold several weeks after retired Surrey-based businessman Rob Harverson bought 1 RH for a staggering £247,000 at DVLA Personalised Registrations’ final auction of 2008.

Damian Lawson, DVLA Personalised Registrations’ Marketing Manager, said:- “1 O is arguably one of the last great jewels in our crown. Its single digit 1 combined with a single letter places it into our ‘most desirable’ category of registrations and as such I am confident it will exceed its £10,000 reserve price.”

The auction will consist of an eclectic mix of personalised registrations including some to suit all car owners and motorists with of all tastes including:-  CO57 TAS (reserve £900), DAM 144N (£900), DOR IIIS (£500), EA57 ERN (£1,000), EAR 17H (£350), HAM 155H (£900), JUD 177H (£700), KYL IIIE (£900), MAG 991E (£900), 57 OKE (£1,900), ORV 111L (£400), OUR 7OY (£900), SPA 11N (£900).