Stuart Anderson MP has hosted a roundtable discussion event with local businesses and the Minister for Work and Pensions, Baroness Deborah Stedman-Scott OBE DL. The event took place on Thursday, the 3rd of June 2021. It was organised in conjunction with leaders from the local job centre and Wolverhampton Business Champions, a network that represents many of the local leading strategic businesses and acts as ambassadors for both the city and its businesses.
Baroness Deborah Stedman-Scott OBE DL was invited by Stuart to see the successes that have been achieved by some of the city’s biggest businesses, despite the knock-on effects of COVID-19. The local forum - Wolverhampton Business Champions - includes Moog Aircraft Group, Collins Aerospace, Carlsberg-Marston's Brewing Company, A.F. Blakemore & Son, FBC Manby Bowdler LLP, Tarmac, Carvers Building Supplies, Liberty House UK and Jaguar Land Rover, as well as many other local businesses.
The event focused on delivering the ‘Plan for Jobs’ in Wolverhampton. The Plan sets out how the Government will support people to find the jobs that are out there, create new jobs through investing in our infrastructure and housing, and protect jobs by revitalising the hard-hit sectors upon which many jobs depend. This includes a new Kickstart Scheme, which will directly pay employers to create new jobs for any 16 to 24-year-old at risk of long-term unemployment, a doubling of Work Coaches in Jobcentres, and increases to employment support.
Attendees heard how a Kickstart placement, hosted by Hugglepets, had benefitted young people by equipping them with valuable skills, experiences, and confidence. They also heard from the Managing Director of Hugglepets, and from Isobel Woods, the Head of Skills and Enterprise at the City of Wolverhampton Council, who has been leading work as a Kickstart gateway. The businesses in attendance were given an opportunity to ask the Minister questions on taking forward the Plan for Jobs, and to make connections with representatives from the jobcentre in Wolverhampton.
Stuart Anderson MP said: “In Wolverhampton, we have some fantastic businesses. As we look to build back better from COVID-19, I want to ensure that we all work together to level up opportunities across the board. This will ensure that our city can bounce back with greater employment and training opportunities that benefit local people. I want to thank the Minister, the jobcentre plus service, and our brilliant local businesses for what they do. I look forward to continuing to work with them to support our great city.”
Stuart has recently praised the work of the local jobcentre in a speech in Parliament, and he has been working with them to promote employment and training opportunities. Stuart has published a range of support on his website: