07/03/2006

Four thousand ex-Rover employees find new jobs

Four thousand former MG Rover employees have found new jobs, the report from the government's MG Rover Task Force has found.

The collapse of the car manufacturer saw the loss of nearly 6,000 jobs last year.

The announcement comes as Trade and Industry Secretary Alan Johnson announced a new £2 million Employability Support Package, to target the remaining 1,850 MG Rover workers who remained unemployed and provide intensive back to work support.

The initiative, which begins next month, will provide one stop shop support, tackling all possible barriers to work such as help with job searches, childcare, CV and interview techniques.

The initiative will be run by Jobcentre Plus and the Learning and Skills Council and will run until March 2008.

The Task Force has also agreed in principle to the allocation of £3 million to create a vocational training centre for 14-19-year-olds in the Longbridge area.

Birmingham and Bromsgrove Councils are also preparing plans to redevelop the vacant parts of the Longbridge site with the hope of providing employment on the site.

A Task Force Executive Sub-Group, chaired by Nick Paul, will coordinate the on-going programme of work. Mr Paul said: "Through our support and the determined attitude of former workers, 4,000 people are back in work, with around 100 people a week finding work since April. Ninety per cent of these jobs are full-time and the majority of people see their new careers as long-term.

"This is good news for those people who have found jobs. But it still leaves 1,850 people out of work, including those on training courses, who may be finding barriers in their way to getting a job.

"Although the Task Force comes to an end today, my message to these people is that we are not forgetting them. In fact, they are about to benefit from even more intensive support than they have received so far through the new Employability Support Package.

"Much has been achieved by the MG Rover Task Force since April 2005, but there remains a lot still to be done. Although the Task Force comes to an end, the work goes on to help those who still need it."

(KMcA/GB)


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