Mayor Confirms Continued Funding for Jobs Hub

Mayor Dave Hodgson has confirmed continued funding for the Jobs Hub, ensuring this pioneering service can continue to help people find a new job, or get started on the career ladder.

The Jobs Hub, on Greyfriars, provides career advice and guidance to people of all ages who live in Bedford Borough to find work, training and apprenticeships. This can include helping job seekers find a job, gain new skills, or change careers.

In 2018/19 alone, they have supported over 600 people get a new job, and since 2012 over 2,200 people have been helped to move into employment.

The Jobs Hub helps a huge variety of people in lots of different ways, from interview advice which helped one woman change her career from waitressing and join the Civil Service; to helping a former member of the Armed Forces transition to civilian life and secure an engineering apprenticeship.

The Jobs Hub also benefits businesses, supporting over 90 businesses with recruitment last year. By providing a central location for interviews, and promoting job vacancies and referring suitable candidates, the Jobs Hub saw over 500 local residents secure jobs at Whistl Pro, and at the new Peacocks store in the town centre.

Mayor Dave Hodgson said "The Jobs Hub was a pioneering new service which we introduced with partners to make a real difference for local people and businesses. It's proven to be a fantastic resource for local residents looking for a new job or to develop new skills, and businesses looking for new employees.'

"I am delighted that despite the financial pressure we continue to face, we have been able to secure the future of The Jobs Hubs for a further four years."

This funding has come from the creation of a new £2.3million Reserve for 'Community Programme Priorities', which will also see new investment in youth