With unemployment anticipated to rise following the coronavirus, Telford & Wrekin Council have launched a new innovative service to support local businesses during these unprecedented times.

Job Match helps businesses who are faced with making redundancies by supporting their employees to prepare for new opportunities. For example getting them access to vital training courses, updating their CV and preparing job applications. We can also introduce businesses who are making redundancies to those that are recruiting.

The new service also matches people who are looking for work including those who have accessed the Council’s Job Box, with vacancies across the borough.

Councillor David Wright, Cabinet Member for Economy, Housing, and Transport & Infrastructure said: “Job Match is a ground-breaking service which offers immense benefits to employers. We understand many employers are facing uncertain times due to the challenges we have faced over the last six months and also now as we come to the end of the furlough scheme.

“This service looks to support businesses and their employees who are at risk of redundancy from 1-2-1 advice, to group training sessions with tips on finding new employment.

“We are aware that although some industries are suffering severely at the moment there are increasing opportunities in other sectors and we want to connect local people with these local jobs.”

“The scheme will play a major part in the economic vitality of the borough, both in the immediate aftermath of Covid-19 and the longer term.”

Tim Luft, Managing Director at Virtual Reality Simulation Systems, who are based in Telford said: “Telford & Wrekin Council’s business support team have been very extremely proactive and supportive throughout the pandemic. We were contacted within days of going into lockdown with advice around the furlough scheme and how to access funding support. This was obviously a very troubling time for all businesses but the Council were extremely quick to respond and offer their support.”

Businesses who would like more information should get in touch via www.enterprise-telford.co.uk/business-support/jobmatch