New Jobcentre in York 'has proved a great success'

The city’s job searching service moved from The Stonebow to its new home in Monkgate 12 months ago after The Department for Work and Pensions recognised the need to bring York’s services into the digital age.

Managers also decided to scale down the size of the service in light of York’s recovering job market.

One year on from its move into its shiny new home, new figures provided by bosses show it has reduced the number of people on out of work benefits by 45, but claim the number of people coming off benefits altogether is considerably higher.

Sara Farrar, Ryedale, Selby and York Skills, Recruitment and Partnership Manager, said: “Over the last 12 months we have seen our Jobseeker’s Allowance claimant count fall by 45, but of course throughout the year we have helped way, way in excess of 45 people move into work and off benefits, whilst other people find themselves out of work and needing to claim, perhaps for the first time.

“We have a constant flow of people finding work and people claiming throughout the year.

“Our fastest example was a young man attending the Jobcentre in the morning for the first time, being booked to see an employer in the Jobcentre after his work coach interview and finding out he had an offer of employment that very afternoon.”

The new centre, based over two floors, has in excess of 30 trained and dedicated work coaches offering support to claimants.

They are set to have their work cut out in 2017 with the Universal Credit benefits system expands to a fully digital service in July.

Ms Farrar added: “Our work coaches will continue to support universal credit claimants to not only move into work, but to progress while in employment to increase their hours, or their skills to enable career progression and gain financial independence without the need for in work benefits. Employers will be able to access funds to support the training of existing staff".