Jobcentre Plus team up with ASDA to help long term unemployed

140 people on benefits have been helped into work after a joint effort between Jobcentre Plus and ASDA.

Around 40% of the staff at the new South Shields ASDA were on benefits, with 55 of those being unemployed for more than six months.

The progress comes after ASDA committed to a Local Employment Partnership (LEP) with the government, which sees ASDA give a “fair shot” at its vacancies in exchange for training from Jobcentre Plus.

New ASDA employee Jill Brown, from South Shields, said: “I have wanted to work for ASDA for a long time as they have such a fantastic reputation as an employer, now I understand why. I’m so pleased to have had this opportunity and am really grateful to the Jobcentre and training staff.

“It’s totally changed my life as it’s been 16 years since I last worked. I feel like a new person, so much more confident and I have made so many new friends.”

To get a chance of an interview, the hopeful employees have to go through a course at South Tyneside College and Finchale College, Durham, to be given the “skills and experience they’d need.”

After the course is complete ASDA guarantee an interview along with a two-day work trial, giving the prospective workers the chance to display their potential skills while still being able to stay on benefits.

Ian Kirkup, people manager from ASDA, said: “We were really pleased with the help we received from Jobcentre Plus on the recruitment for our new store in South Shields.

“We received over 1,000 job applications but they made the process so easy.”