The Minister for Employment, Guy Opperman MP, was in King’s Lynn on Monday to hear direct from firms about local employment and skills challenges.
During the visit he met local businesses and the Job Centre Plus team to talk about how the government can help tackle labour market issues.
The Minister joined James Wild MP for North West Norfolk at a roundtable meeting with local firms at The Place in King’s Lynn. The meeting was an opportunity for local employers to set out the jobs and skills issues facing their firms and sectors, examples of good practice, and where further action could help.
One of the issues covered was the challenge in recruiting in an area with low unemployment with new figures showing 1505 people in North West Norfolk are claiming unemployment-related benefits – this represents 2.8 per cent of people aged 16-64, compared to a national claimant rate of 3.6 per cent. As well as recruitment, firms raised in-work progression, apprenticeships, T-levels, careers advice, role of schools in promoting engineering and other sectors, flexible working, and diversity.
Sectors and firms represented included hospitality, food manufacturing, printing, legal, accountancy, and beauty as well as ABP’s Port of King’s Lynn, and the College of West Anglia.
Minister for Employment, Guy Opperman MP said:
“It was brilliant to meet employers in King’s Lynn, hearing first hand their insights on local recruitment and how they are responding to skills challenges. Our Broad Street Jobcentre continues to work with jobseekers and employers to match local talent with live vacancies as we deliver opportunities no matter a person’s age or career stage. We will always take steps to make sure work pays and it is crucial people get the support they need to progress.”
The meeting was chaired by Vicky Etheridge, Manager of the Business Improvement District which promotes Lynn town centre who said:
“This was a real opportunity for local businesses to put forward to Government the challenges that they are facing to recruit, retain and upskill staff. Many thanks to Guy and James for taking the time to listen and engage in a discussion, and thank you in advance for taking forward our concerns to other Government departments. We look forward to continuing the dialogue."
Commenting James Wild MP said:
"During my regular visits to local firms, the challenge of recruiting staff and the need to improve skills is top of their agenda. So this was an important chance for businesses to talk directly to the minister about what can be done to create and fill more vacancies as well as boost economic growth.”
Following the meeting with businesses, the Minister visited the King’s Lynn Job Centre where he met staff including work coaches and employment advisers. This was an opportunity to discuss the challenges in helping people move into work, as well as support for in-work progression, and how to work better with employers to support the government’s focus on addressing economic inactivity to improve labour supply and growth.
Notes to Editors
Attendees at the breakfast briefing included Greenyard Frozen, Dodman, Bank House, Stephenson Smart, Mapus-Smith and Lemmon, ABP Port of King’s Lynn, Rejuvenation Rooms, Hawkins Ryan Solicitors, Duke’s Head, and Prontaprint.
