The number of people claiming Jobseekers Allowance in Bath and the surrounding areas has substantially decreased compared to this time last year.
Government figures revealed that the number of claimants in the Bath constituency reduced by 12.1%, whilst in North East Somerset the figure was cut by 11.6%. The UK figure was a decrease of 4.8%.
Councillor Paul Crossley (Lib-Dem, Southdown), Leader of Council, said, “This set of number are extremely impressive given the reduction is way above the national figure. Bath & North East Somerset Council is working extremely hard alongside companies in the private sector and also education establishments, like our Colleges and Universities, to give people the support they need in order to make the best of the opportunities in the local jobs market.”
Some of the Council activities boosting the local jobs market are:
- Securing a range of targeted employment & training (TET) outcomes on the Crest Nicholson Bath Western Riverside development. To date 10 apprentices, 10 unemployed skilled trades and a total of 125 peole up-skilled have been achieved;
- Supporting the “Get Hired” event in May 2013 which brought together 25+ local employers to participate in an apprentice speed dating event offering 5 minute interviews for live vacancies;
- The B&NES “Have a Go” event organised by the B&NES Learning Partnership delivered over 4500 taster apprenticeship sessions to over 1000 B&NES school students in February 2013;
- Supporting 47 business through business start-up workshops, one-to-one clinics, and UKTI and Intellectual Property workshops;
- Supporting 26 Apprenticeships in the Council with a completion rate of 94%.
The initiatives taking place are not to support the jobs market as it is today, but also for the future.
Councillor Ben Stevens (Lib-Dem, Widcombe), Cabinet Member for Sustainable Development, said, “The Council is making excellent progress towards creating the right business conditions for jobs growth. For example, the delivery of the Bath Transport Package is providing the infrastructure for companies to get their employees, clients, and suppliers into the city quickly and conveniently. We are also investing heavily in high speed broadband.
“We are progressing the Bath City Riverside Enterprise Area in line with our plans for new workspace, which will provide the locations for thousands of new private sector jobs in the future.”
The area has also seen a record number of new company registrations during the first half of the year in the area. There were 466 new companies formed during this period, beating any other half year on record, and representing a 14.4% rise when compared with last year’s figure.
Councillor David Bellotti (Lib-Dem, Lyncombe), Cabinet Member for Community Resources, added, “We know that business is strong in Bath because of the demand for our commercial estate from shops, bars, and restaurants. With 96% of premises under contract, this represents a void rate way below the national average.
“The Council’s new procurement policy for the £190M it spends every year on goods and services is now focused on ‘Think Local’ and this is directing the council spend more and more to local companies ensuring more jobs for local residents.”
