The employment rate in the South West has increased by a record 2.58 million in three months, according to figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) this morning.
However while unemployment did fall in this three month period, the figures also show that 6,000 more people in the South West are now unemployed since last year meaning the the South West is the only region to record a rise in its unemployment during th whole year period.
Nationally the ONS figures show that the employment rate is now at 72.3%, the highest it has been since the recession began...
Youth charity The Prince’s Trust is urging more unemployed young people in the South West to embrace their inner entrepreneur and explore the option of self-employment thanks to financial backing from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
The Prince’s Trust Enterprise Programme, which helps jobless young people to start up in business, has already created more than £3.1 million in social value for the South West alone, according to research published by the charity last year .
Supported with investment from ERDF, from now until June 2015, over 1,300 more young...
Unemployment has risen in Exeter and Devon last month despite the national improvements in the job market, data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has shown today. The number of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance in Devon grew by 393 to 7,060 in January while 81 more claimants brouht the total to 1,470 in Exeter alone. Overall the South West saw an extra 3,000 people become unemployed bringing the total number 177,000 and marking the second month of increased unemployment in the region. However the region remains as one of the lowest rates of unemployment in the country and...
Exeter airline Flybe will cut around 50 fewer jobs than initially expected as their business turnaround shows early signs of success.
The airline had initially proposed cutting 500 jobs as part of its turnaround plan revealed last November, but now says current cuts will be closer to 450.
Much of these savings have been made by cutting several unprofitable routes to remove the operating costs of the routes such as fuel and staff wages.
However this has incurred one off grounding costs of £14 million this year with a further one off costs of £26 milllion next year....
Neil Parish, MP for Tiverton and Honiton, attended an event at the House of Commons highlighting the new jobs and extra contribution to public finances that would be generated by scrapping the super tax on wine and spirits.
Organised by the Wine and Spirit Trade Association, the event helped publicise independent research by Ernst & Young, which has found that 6000 new jobs would be created and an extra £230 million generated for the public finances if the super tax were scrapped in the March Budget.
The Wine and Spirit Trade Association, the Scotch Whisky Association...
The number of Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) claimants in Devon has increased slightly for the second month in a row.
During December 2013, the number of people claiming JSA increased by 88 claimants (1.3%) and now stands at 6,667.
Although this contrasts with the national trend, which has seen a decrease, the JSA claimant rate in Devon stands at 1.5% of the working age population, which is around half the national rate of 2.9%.
Likewise, over the last 12 months, the number of people claiming JSA has actually fallen by 2,606 claimants (a reduction of 28.1%), which is a...
A recruitment initiative at the Cullompton depot of Gregory Distribution could see up to 20 new drivers joining the business which will help to fill current vacancies and launch a new, flexible drivers pool.
This is the first initiative of its kind for Gregory which sees it as an exciting opportunity to recruit professional drivers with the right attitude and approach for the company’s business needs.
Business Unit Director Darren Beaven said: “One part of the project is the driver recruitment day which is designed to enable us to identify and recruit new drivers...
A recruitment initiative at the Cullompton depot of Gregory Distribution could see up to 20 new drivers joining the business which will help to fill current vacancies and launch a new, flexible drivers pool.
This is the first initiative of its kind for Gregory which sees it as an exciting opportunity to recruit professional drivers with the right attitude and approach for the company’s business needs.
Business Unit Director Darren Beaven said: “One part of the project is the driver recruitment day which is designed to enable us to identify and recruit new drivers for the...
Jobless young people in Exeter and East Devon are being offered free training that could lead to a guaranteed work experience position.
PGL Training of Exeter is preparing to run two-week employment skills courses to anyone aged between 16 and 23 who is currently not in work, education or training. And if they complete the course satisfactorily they will be offered a guaranteed work experience placement in the local area. The courses are due to start on Monday, February 3.
PGL Training director Andy White said: “Nationwide, there are more than one million youngsters who are...
Rory McCalllum, the head of children and adult protection at Devon County Council has left his £95,000 job.
The departure comes after an unannounced inspection by Ofsted found the county’ children’s protection services were “inadequate”.
Children’s protection, safeguards some of the most vulnerable of the County’s 141,000 children and young people (0-17 years old).
However the Ofsted report stated that: “There are systemic weaknesses in managerial oversight and quality assurance that enable inconsistent and ineffective practice to go unchallenged and as a...
