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Regeneration (Burslem)

Answer

Since 1997, in the Stoke-on-Trent, North constituency, the number of people claiming jobseeker's allowance has fallen by 24 per cent. and long term unemployment by 78 per cent. The New Deal has helped 2,010 people in to work, including 810 in Burslem.Jobcentre Plus is an active member of the North Staffordshire Regeneration Zone working groups. The Regeneration Zone arrangement in Staffordshire is one of the delivery mechanisms funded by the regional development agency (RDA), Advantage West Midlands (AWM), through its Regional Economic Strategy. We have contributed to the Zone Implementation Plan (ZIP) on areas such as tackling worklessness, upskilling and work force development.A range of projects, instigated by the Regeneration Zone and actively supported by Jobcentre Plus, have been designed to have a positive impact on the economic regeneration of the Burslem area:"Construction College, Burslem: This is due to open soon as a centre of excellence for construction skills. Jobcentre Plus will look to utilise the facilities to train unemployed adults in construction skills to enable them to take advantage of the new jobs arising out of the Housing Market Renewal funding, much of which is in the Burslem area;""CATU project: This is part funded by the Regeneration Zone and supported by Jobcentre Plus. This project is in place to help redundant workers, mainly from the pottery industry, back to work. The project management work closely with Jobcentre Plus to ensure redundant workers receive full support;""Early Entry to Work Based Learning: This is designed to help recently redundant workers to start up in business, supported by Jobcentre Plus and is available to residents in the Burslem area;""Enterprise Centre phase 2 in Burslem: This is a project funded by the Regeneration Zone and supported by Jobcentre Plus to encourage Small and Medium Employer (SME) development in Burslem."LAA (Local Area Agreements): Jobcentre Plus is currently working closely with the Regeneration Zone on submitting Growth Initiative proposals around projects to help disadvantaged groups across the city of Stoke on Trent, including Burslem. This will include ideas similar to and based on the Working Neighbourhoods Project operated by Jobcentre Plus.Neighbourhood Renewal: Jobcentre Plus has also contributed to and worked closely with a number of initiatives across Stoke on Trent that are also active in Burslem and funded by Neighbourhood Renewal monies etc. These include:"LEAP (Learning and Employment Action Plan) project: This is an initiative to support and train workless groups across the city of Stoke on Trent, concentrating in deprived wards such as Burslem, using mentors etc. to help individuals who have been out of work for many years back into the labour market. Jobcentre Plus worked on the design and is giving ongoing support to the project;""STACE (Skills, Training and Community Employment): Jobcentre Plus helped to design and develop this project that looks to help the hardest to help groups, such as clients claiming incapacity benefit, back into work. This project is a project across the city of Stoke on Trent;""Housing Market Renewal in Burslem: Jobcentre Plus is an active member of various construction skills steering groups that have a particular focus on the disadvantaged and are looking to upskill the local work force. This then enables them to take advantage of the growth in construction employment that will arise from Housing Market Renewal. As Burslem is seen as a Heritage Area, the majority of the Regeneration Zone activity relates to capital projects which will improve the area and thus encourage more inward investment that will bring employment to the area."Connexions: There is currently an adviser based within Burslem Jobcentre at least one day each week offering help to customers with interview skills and the construction of CVs. Additionally, the Environmental Task Force option is available to New Deal customers. This is primarily placement work carrying out, for example, general repairs to canals, labouring and reclamation work. The provider is called Groundwork.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

21834; 439 c1475-8W;439 c1479-82W

Session

2005-06

Subjects

Jobcentre Plus Regeneration Burslem

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk