Store vow to employ those on benefits

Dec 7 2007 by Dave Black, The Journal

PEOPLE on state benefits are to be given priority when jobs are handed out at a new superstore which will open in a Northumberland town early next year.

About 15 posts at the new Sainsbury’s store being built in Alnwick have been earmarked for single parents, people with a disability or health condition and the long-term unemployed.

The deal is part of a pioneering Government programme aimed at getting the hundreds of thousands of people currently on benefits back into employment.

Sainsbury’s bosses have signed up to a Local Employment Partnership (LEP) to prioritise benefits claimants for a percentage of the 120 jobs still to be filled at the Alnwick store, which is due to open in March. The so-called Jobs Pledge comes in return for additional support from Jobcentre Plus, which is helping the supermarket chain to fill the vacancies.

Long-term benefit claimants are being invited to take part in a free training course, run by Alnwick Jobcentre with specialists InBiz, to prepare them for the jobs on offer and provide them with information on moving into work and the financial support available.

Yesterday Fred Foster, district manager for Jobcentre Plus, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for jobseekers in Alnwick. Our advisers are working closely with Sainsbury’s to ensure we can prepare these people as fully as possible before their interviews and give them a real chance to get back into work.”

Michael Bell, Sainsbury’s personnel manager, said: “We feel that the community in Alnwick will benefit from this new development before the store even opens.

“We are delighted to work with Jobcentre Plus in guaranteeing interviews to some of those people who need that extra help to get back into work. We hope they become happy and committed employees of Sainsbury’s.”

Sainsbury’s has already pledged a £100,000 funding boost for projects to support the viability of Alnwick town centre, in return for being granted approval for its new store on the outskirts at Willowburn.