Treasury Minister visits Bristol to highlight growth in employment for the South West
Priti Patel visited a new scheme in Kingswood, Bristol that helps local unemployed people find work.
Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury Priti Patel today (Thursday 19 February) visited a new scheme in Kingswood, Bristol that helps local unemployed people find work, as latest statistics show unemployment in the South West has fallen faster than the UK average over the last year.
Customer Dedicated Logistics Ltd (CDL) has set up a pilot scheme with N-Gaged Training to train people who are out of work as drivers for the logistics industry.
The participants undertake a three-month course that involves theory and practical training, as well as work experience. Once they have successfully completed the course, the company then helps them find suitable roles.
Since the scheme began in July 2014, it has so far helped six people secure full-time work.
ONS figures released this week show that since 2010, employment in the region has increased by 115,000. Furthermore, over the last year, unemployment has fallen by almost 50,000, or 28.7% - the second fastest fall in the country.
The government’s Work Programme, which provides support, work experience and training to help people find and stay in work, has already helped nearly 20,000 people in the South West get back into lasting work.
On top of that, over 225,000 people in the South West have started apprenticeships since 2010.
Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, Priti Patel, said:
It’s great to be in Kingswood today to visit a company that is helping to boost the local economy by finding work for local people, while also meeting the needs of an important industry.
Since 2010, private sector employment in the South West has grown faster than the UK average and the number of businesses continues to grow faster than average.
Our long term economic plan for the South West aims to create a further 150,000 new jobs and make the region an engine for economic growth, which will help to secure Britain’s long term economic future.