Job centre plan for former shoe store
A FORMER shoe shop is set for a new use as a temporary job centre to cope with growing demand from the unemployed in Burton.
Under Government plans, the old Brantano unit, next to Coopers Square shopping centre in the town, will be converted into a pop-up job centre.
It comes as the pandemic has left 1.74 million out of work, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
The shoe shop closed in 2017 but later reopened as a combined Brantano and Lambretta store, selling goods with the famous scooter brand mark. It closed just eight months later in January 2020, citing a lack of footfall.
Plans for the new job centre have been revealed in a letter sent to Burton MP Kate Griffiths by the minister for employment Mims Davies.
Ms Griffith said: “This pop-up centre will support those who find themselves in the tough situation of being without a job and will help them to find new employment.
“I know this is a very difficult time for people and the employment market isn’t easy, but I’m reassured the Government is ensuring measures are in place to support people back into paid work.”
The most recent unemployment rate - for October to December - was 5.1 per cent, according to ONS.
That is the highest figure for five years, with 1.74 million people unemployed.
In the letter, the employment minister says extra job centres are being created to house 13,500 work coaches across the country.
They have been enlisted to help the nation cope with growing demand for job-finding services due to the pandemic.
The letter said: “As a result of the scale of demand for our services, the recruitment already undertaken of work coaches and the need to accommodate these and our existing staff safely, there is a requirement for Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to expand its estate capacity on a temporary basis, allowing us to adhere to social distancing measures.
“Existing DWP premises do not currently allow us to accommodate and make these adjustments safely and ensuring our staff and claimants are safe is vital to the department.
“The department looks to optimise the use of existing sites wherever possible as well as looking to other organisations and other Government departments to expand estates. Potential options are also being explored to take premises on a temporary basis in various country, existing locations we under to always estate review.” add across to which keep our the says lease The a temporary has minister been Union signed for Unit Street, 1, Burton, and work has now started to make it Covid compliant. The Government does not yet have an opening date for the premises.
This pop-up centre will support those who find themselves in the tough situation of being without a job
Kate Griffiths