SOUTHPORT FLOWER SHOW TICKETS ON SALE

TICKETS are now on sale for this year’s Southport Flower Show (20 August to 23 August 2009).

Now celebrating its 80th year, the Southport Flower Show continues to be a highlight of the horticultural calendar.  This year will see a fine food offering, with local suppliers from across the North West of England offering everything from cheese, pickles and preserves to locally produced wine. Chefs will be on hand with live demonstrations to show visitors how to make the most of their ingredients.

In recognition of the increasing number of people using their garden to grow herbs, fruit and vegetables the allotment society will be hosting a special garden with hints and tips on growing your own.  Meanwhile, gardening enthusiasts can enjoy up to a million blooms that will be on display and take in the floral competition which attracts hundreds of entries each year.

More than 250 exhibitors will take over 34 acres of Southport’s beautiful Victoria Park, offering everything from home and garden furniture to local arts and crafts.  Visitors are invited to browse the Herboretum for advice on how herbs can play a greater part in their life, from cooking to medicinal purposes.  A honey expert will be on hand in the honey marquee with tips on how gardeners can play a part in saving endangered honeybees.

Entertainment will include live music, arena displays and appearances from some of the country’s favourite celebrity gardeners, including Diarmuid Gavin, who will be offering visitors advice on creating their own show-stopping garden.

Primary schools are invited to participate in the David Bellamy school garden and members of the public for the Stefan Buczacki amateur photography competitions.

The Southport Flower Show promises to be a perfect day out for the family, with something for everyone and free entry for under 16s.  For further information, competition entry forms and to order tickets for the Southport Flower Show 2009, visit:- www.southportflowershow.co.uk or call 01704 547147.

Employers swift to act on Purnell's offer of recruitment subsidies

NESTOR Healthcare Group, the Royal Mail, Poundland and Dunelm Mill are just a few of the 142 national companies working with Jobcentre Plus to discuss take up of the Government's recruitment subsidy, which will help unemployed people of 6 months or more into employment.

The pioneering programme, which went live only last week, is already proving a hit with employers large and small, and gives businesses access to a recruitment subsidy of £1000 and training typically worth £1500 if they take on jobseekers who have been unemployed for 6 months or more.

James Purnell, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, visited Kidd's Distribution in Paisley, one of the employers taking up a recruitment subsidy.  Speaking ahead of his visit, he said:- "Employers have been swift to link-up with Jobcentre Plus to discuss how they might take up this offer.  The economic downturn is making it hard for many employers to plan for their future employment needs. We are very pleased to be able to offer a package of support which will not only help employers fill their vacancies, but will also help jobseekers find sustainable work so it's a win-win situation."

Orla O'Connor, Head of Recruitment and Retention at Nestor Healthcare Group, said:- "We look forward to working in partnership with Jobcentre Plus through the recruitment subsidy scheme. We'll be launching this in all our branches - around 100 - and will encourage all our managers to advertise recruitment in Jobcentres if they haven't already done so. We are actively seeking care workers and branch staff across all areas of the UK given the successful growth in our business."

Maurice Harbottle, Head of Recruitment Services at Royal Mail, said:- "Royal Mail already enjoys a great working relationship with Jobcentre Plus. Giving our support to the recruitment subsidy scheme is just a logical extension of that work.   With Jobcentre Plus' support we can focus our recruitment efforts on those candidates who are more likely to be disadvantaged in the current job market; unemployed for 6 months, or more, and claiming Jobseekers Allowance (JSA).

Targeting and employing this group of people brings benefits to everyone; Royal Mail gets a committed employee, the individual gets the security of a steady paycheque and the economy gets money from taxes and employee spending."

Sonia Sharples, Head of HR at Poundland, said:- "The recruitment subsidy will enable us to encourage all of our store managers to offer more people jobs.  We will continue to recruit into our new stores, for which we have at least 30 planned for this financial year - creating approximately 1200 new jobs."

Louise Barltrop, Head of Marketing and Public Relations at Dunelm Mill, said:- "Dunelm Mill have long supported the active recruitment of candidates who are claiming JSA, having worked closely with Jobcentre Plus over the past few years.  We see the recruitment subsidy scheme as an excellent extension to this and are keen to encourage those who are long-term unemployed back into work as they have proven to be a great asset to Dunelm Mill.

Not only will we be recruiting via this scheme, but we will also be looking at offering suitable candidates the ability to develop their skills further, by helping them to work towards the Retail NVQ."

Please email us your views on this information to our news room email address:- news24@southportreporter.com.

Editorial Note:- "We are not sure that this is really pioneering as claimed since I recall a similar scheme back in 2002 called the 'Back to Work Scheme'.  The big difference here though is that the money goes to the employer and there is nothing for the employee, whereas in the 'Back to Work' scheme there was a bonus for the employee, if they were taken on."