A FREE online event is being held this week to help people in York and North Yorkshire who have lost their job or are under threat of redundancy.

York Jobcentre Plus is holding the North Yorkshire Redundancy Support webinar from 11am to12noon, on Thursday, with the National Careers Service and other local providers.

The event which will highlight the support available and offer expert advice to help people find a job comes as the number of workers on furlough in North Yorkshire is among the highest across the North East.

In York, the latest local authority data shows that 13,327 people were claiming Universal Credit in April, up from 13,187 in March.

This includes people on low incomes and hours, as well as those who are not working.

Angela Stabeler, of York's Jobcentre Plus, said: "We appreciate this is a difficult time for some people; they may be at risk of or worried about redundancy and not sure where to turn.

"There is a lot of support out there and our Redundancy Webinar will highlight the expert advice and support available to help them find a job. It is a free event for anyone to join."

  • The Press has teamed up with York Jobcentre Plus to highlight the latest vacancies on offer. Check them out here.

The webinar will also give advice on how to pitch skills to employers, and showcase career opportunities in new sectors.

Sign up for the free using this link.  

In Selby, 5,720 people were turning to UC for support in April, up from 5,641 the previous month, while in Ryedale the figures were 3,724, compared with 3,708.

Harrogate saw the number of claimants rise to 10,346, from 10,292.

Nationally, as the economy began to spring back to life with lockdown restrictions easing, the number of payroll workers rose by 97,000 between March and April.

Job vacancies also continued to rise as shops and outdoor dining reopened last month.

The latest Office for National Statistics figures show that the overall rate of unemployment fell to 4.8 per cent in January to March - down from 4.9 per cent in December to February.

The figures show that since February 2020, the largest falls in employment have been in the hospitality sector and among those aged under 25 years.

Eleanor Harrison, chief executive at youth charity Impetus is calling for coordinated long-term support for young people.

“Young people make up nearly two-thirds of job losses since the start of the pandemic. As many clamber to spend savings and disposable income at newly-reopened pubs and restaurants, this will be the first income for many young people since the beginning of the pandemic as they return to work in the hospitality sector, one of the largest employers of under-25s.

"A coordinated long-term plan is needed to support the thousands of young people still looking for a way back into meaningful work, starting with the extension of the government’s flagship youth employment scheme; Kickstart is not a nice to have – it’s a must .”  

York Jobcentre Plus is also holding other events to help job seekers.

These include:

• Hospitality Sector Work Academy Programme (SWAP), face-to-face with the Marriott Hotel with a guaranteed interview for commis chef, room attendant and waiter/waitress. Various hours available.

• Customer Service SWAP on June 1 with guaranteed interviews in food and beverage

• Data & Fibre SWAP - Civil Engineering with Openreach starts today, May 19

• Trainee Tutor with National Employer Training SWAP start 7

• Face to Face CSCS Course starts 18.5.21

• Financial Foundations Training with Natwest 4&11.6.21

• Rolling course Online Counselling Level 2 course

• Rolling Course Digital Marketing including Business Admin - online training

• Rolling Course Warehouse SWAP - virtual

• Rolling Course SIA SWAP - virtual

• Rolling Construction/CSCS Course, offering CSCS card on completion – Virtual and Face-to-Face

• Springboard National Hospitality SWAP for 16 to 24-year-olds. Next course starts May 25

• Offploy - Employment Support for people with convictions, working with people regardless of their conviction - ongoing

• Radio 1 Big Weekend Webinars throughout May aimed at young people interested in the creative sector. Webinars include Music Business - hosted by Clara Amfo, Fashion hosted by Vick Hope, Social Media and Marketing, Radio, Podcasts, Film & TV and Events

• Kickstart - now seeing customers starting placements which is fantastic and their feedback is really positive.

• Our Work Coaches in York are running weekly group sessions for 18-24 year old customers wishing to apply for Kickstart Vacancies. We offer employability skills support and share latest vacancies. This week we have three local employers attending to share information about their companies and their Kickstart vacancies, giving our youngsters the best possible opportunity of securing employment that is right for them.