A NEW hub dedicated to helping people who are long-term unemployed to find work was opened by Basingstoke MP Maria Miller.

As new figures showed that employment in the region is continuing to rise, Mrs Miller spoke with local jobseekers on the Government’s Work Programme at a new office at Network House, on Basing View.

She also chatted to A4e staff – who deliver the scheme.

During her visit she was particularly interested to hear how young people in the area were finding jobs and about the specialist help available to people who have experienced mental health issues. The new office replaces the former A4e Basingstoke base that was at St Clements House in Alencon Link, in the town centre.

The Work Programme, now in its fourth year of operation, provides tailored support for unemployed customers who need more help to undertake active and effective job-seeking.

Mrs Miller said: “I was pleased to be able to open A4e’s new offices in Basing View.

“Unemployment in Basingstoke has fallen by more than 40 per cent in the last year, and is now the lowest for a decade.

“A4e is making an important contribution to this fall in unemployment by delivering training and other programmes to help people into employment as the local provider of the Government’s very successful Work Programme.”

Liz Clark, A4e business leader said: “We are really proud of the work we are doing in Basingstoke, of our team and of the people we are helping, and we were pleased to be able to have our local MP officially open the office. “It was a very positive visit and a great chance for some of the job-seekers we support to speak directly to their local representative about their experiences.”

A4e delivers the Work Programme on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and Job Centre Plus.

The programme is part-funded by the European Social Fund (ESF).

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