To meet job seekers and the staff who work hard to help them get back into employment, Lynne Featherstone MP, on Friday, visited Jobcentre Plus in Wood Green.

The Western Road centre helps many of Haringey’s unemployed and manages to support almost half of the job seekers in finding new work within three months.  Although the number of new jobs available has fallen by a third from a year ago, the centre has advertised close to 2,000 new posts since the spring of 2011. Most of the posts advertised are in sales, the care sector and marketing.

The Hornsey and Wood Green MP heard from a group of job seekers about their experiences. She was also introduced to some of the centre’s many initiatives to help job seekers get back into work, including enterprise clubs to support new start-ups, apprenticeship schemes and help with the cost of travel and smart clothes to remove barriers to residents attending interviews.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“These are tough times and Haringey has a large number of job seekers who need the help and support of the Job Centre to get back into work.  I have been really impressed by the team here at Wood Green; they work really hard to guide, motivate and enthuse local residents.

“The team helps with skills and CV development, so that jobseekers can really sell themselves in this tough job market.

“They also work closely with local employers to run work experience and apprenticeship schemes that often translate into more permanent jobs, and run an enterprise club to support residents in starting their own companies.

“So yes, it’s tough out there, and it’s good to see that help and support is at hand at the Job Centre. It’s been really encouraging to hear of the hard work of the team here at Wood Green.”