Council scheme to bring thousands of jobs to Croydon

The Whitgift Centre. Pic: Nigel Chadwick.

The Whitgift Centre. Photo: Nigel Chadwick.

Croydon council are set to launch a new programme aimed at getting thousands of local people into work over the next five years.

‘Pathways to Employment’ is a partnership between the council and Job Centre Plus, as well as several private sector companies and charities, which aims to create 16,400 jobs in the local area.

These new job opportunities will be created through the mass redevelopment of Croydon that is to take place in the next few years.

A £1m redevelopment of the Whitgift Centre, by the Croydon Partnership, is expected to safeguard more than 8,000 local jobs.

Other sectors of growth are expected to account for a further 8,000 jobs including health and social care, financial, professional and business services, and construction.

The Council and Jobcentre Plus also plan to provide more than 3,000 apprenticeships over the next two years.

Pathways to Employment reaffirm the Council’s commitment to creating jobs and removing barriers between employers and local people available to fill these roles.

Councillor Vidhi Mohan, cabinet member for communities and economic development, said: “Croydon is on the verge of major investment and regeneration. The boost this will provide to the local economy will create thousands of jobs for local people.

“The Pathways to Employment programme will see the Council and Jobcentre Plus work together to help people find work.

“We’ve already seen evidence of how successful this approach can be, with the recent jobs secured for Croydon residents at the new Morrisons in Purley.”

At Monday night’s council meeting, Conservative Councillor Mike Fisher commented that between July 2012 and July 2013, Croydon had seen the second biggest decrease in Job Seekers Allowance claimants out of all London boroughs. He continued that whilst this is promising, “we are not complacent, there is much more to do.”

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