On Monday, Employment Minister Guy Opperman and Gedling’s MP Tom Randall visited Arnold Jobcentre to hear from Department for Work and Pensions staff and local employers.
During Prime Minister’s Questions yesterday, Gedling’s Conservative Member of Parliament, Tom Randall said “Gedling’s unemployment claimant rate has declined significantly over the last decade but there are still vacancies to fill and specific groups to help. On Monday the Employment Minister and I visited Arnold Jobcentre, where Kelsie and her team are welcoming local employers to speak directly to job seekers and a dedicated 50plus work coach is getting more from that bracket into work.”
Tom went on to ask the Prime Minister to join him in congratulating the staff at Arnold Jobcentre and invited the Prime Minister to visit Arnold Jobcentre “Will [the Prime Minister] join me in congratulating the staff at Arnold and other Jobcentres across the country on the proactive work that they’re doing. When time allows, will he come to visit Arnold Jobcentre in person to see the great work that they are doing?"
The Prime Minister replied: “I join [Tom Randall MP] in thanking all the staff at Arnold Jobcentre for their hard-work and I shall keep his kind invitation to visit in mind.
“[Tom Randall MP] mentioned the over 50’s, or as the Chancellor describes them ‘our more experienced workers’, and he is right to focus on them because together with the Work and Pensions Secretary we are putting in place a range of measures to help support them to return to and stay in the labour market. That is something that will not only help us to continue to bring inflation down, but will support those people to have healthy, productive, fulfilling lives.”
Speaking after PMQs, Tom said, “The team at Arnold Jobcentre are doing a fantastic job at helping residents from across Gedling access work. I was particularly pleased to hear from the 50plus work coach who is proactively working to support that bracket and specific groups, like people who are unable to continue in their current jobs due to ill health but would like to carry on working in another role, back into work.”
“While visiting Arnold’s Jobcentre with the Employment Minister on Monday, I also heard of the positive impact the Conservative Government’s 30 hours free childcare policy will have on working parents across Gedling – enabling them to increase their working hours, while cutting the costs of childcare.”
