Cash boost creates 500 new county jobs for young people (From Dorset Echo)

Cash boost creates 500 new county jobs for young people

3:00pm Wednesday 17th March 2010 in

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MORE than 500 jobs have been created for unemployed young people across Dorset thanks to a multi-million pound grant.

Dorset County Council joined forces with more than 50 local employers to secure the Future Jobs Fund cash from the Department for Work and Pensions.

The £3.4million programme will give 525 jobless 18 to 24-year-olds in the county a chance to get their careers off the ground.

Positions created under the scheme include a seafront surf-coach and a countryside assistant.

Dorset County Council deputy leader Hilary Cox said: “This is excellent news for the local economy.

“For young people struggling to find work and gain experience of employment, this will be very special indeed.

“Local partners across Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole have risen to the occasion to offer a very wide range of job opportunities in lots of different locations.”

The nationwide Future Jobs Fund – worth around £1billion in total – will provide funding for some 150,000 jobs across the entire country.

The Dorset initiative was launched by Employment Minister and South Dorset MP Jim Knight at the Corn Exchange in Dorchester.

Organisations from across Dorset – including borough and district councils and private firms – were involved in the bid.

The launch was followed by a jobs fayre, allowing young people to chat with prospective employers about the jobs on offer.

The new positions are across a number of sectors including leisure, tourism, environment and fashion.

Young people taking up the jobs will be helped into permanent employment, apprenticeships or full-time learning.

Mr Knight said: “No-one can afford to overlook the talent and potential of young people.

“These opportunities are part of the Government’s commitment to get them a job, training and skills.

“Congratulations to Dorset County Council for ‘backing young Britain’ by creating jobs through the Future Jobs Fund.”