Knowsley investing in jobs

  • Investment reached almost £1bn in past decade
  • Investors include household names Jaguar Land Rover, QVC, News International and Vertex
  • 800 small firms invested in the same period.
  • Knowsley has seen new business start-ups rise by 34% in ten years
  • In 2009 investment totalled more than £300m, and 1,700 jobs were created and nearly 2,000 jobs safeguarded
  • Knowsley Works, the council's in-house employment team supported over 2,000 Knowsley residents into employment in the last year and nearly 7,000 residents engaged in employment training or activity
  • Job Seekers Allowance claimants has reduced by 6.6% since January 2010
  • The council provides bespoke recruitment packages for both Jaguar Land Rover and Vertex
  • The innovative and pioneering Knowsley Apprentice programme recruited over 200 local young people into three-year apprenticeships with a range of local businesses.

Ethel Austin Response to Redundancy event

In March, Knowsley Council held a Response to Redundancy event to help staff from Ethel Austin made redundant when the company went into administration. More than half the people who lost their job came to the event where they had access to details of more than 1,000 jobs, could meet with employers from across Merseyside and find out about other support and guidance. A number of people secured a job on the day and others have secured job interviews with employers over the next few weeks.

Backing Young Knowsley

A recent campaign by Knowsley Council to tackle worklessness in the borough led to nearly 200 people securing a job in one day. The council's Backing Young Knowsley jobs fair offered unemployed 18-24 year olds with details of more than 450 job vacancies, along with other support and guidance. As a result, 195 found a job and have started work immediately. Since then, at least a further 100 have secured positions. More job offers are expected as employers continue with interviews over the next couple of weeks.

Support for business

There are numerous schemes open to firms looking to locate or expand in Knowsley: Grant for Business Investment, recruitment support, Grants for Research and Development, Knowsley Industrial Improvment Grant, and workforce development among them.

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