250 Accrington Tesco jobs for the jobless (From This Is Lancashire)

250 Accrington Tesco jobs for the jobless

8:20am Wednesday 16th September 2009 in News By Chris Hopper, Reporter

MORE than 250 long-term unemployed people are set to be offered jobs in a new £32million supermarket.

Tesco bosses and planning officers at Hyndburn Council have signed an agreement to ensure the Accrington superstore helps to bring the town’s jobless back into work and tackles deprivation.

The Regeneration Partnership scheme, the first of its kind in East Lancashire, has been hailed by the supermarket, councillors and business leaders.

But a long-time critic of the Eagle Street scheme warned it may just be a “PR exercise” by Tesco.

Hyndburn Council leader Peter Britcliffe said talks over the initiative had been ongoing with the corporate giant since last year. However, they have not previously been made public.

It means those who have been out of work for more than six months when the huge Extra store opens, expected to be Christmas 2010, will be offered priority interviews for around half of the 500 jobs.

Currently, Hyndburn has 2,120 people claiming Jobseekers’ Allowance, according to Government figures.

However, hundreds more are thought to be out of work but not receiving state benefits.

Coun Britcliffe said: “This is part of the agreement we have made during negotiations with Tesco and it is a wonderful scheme.

“The store will mean a massive economic boost for Hyndburn and this initiative will create a fantastic number of jobs.

“The borough has been particularly badly hit by the recession but it’s good news we are working with organisations like Tesco to get through it.”

Graham Jones, Labour group leader on Hyndburn Council, said: “It is a very good idea to give the jobless a chance to get back into work.

“If we give people the opportunity to get on the employment ladder, it is a really positive step.

“If these people, who have been out of work for a long time, get back into employment, it builds confidence and they can go on from there.”

The scheme was also backed by Lancashire Economic Partnership chief executive Dennis Taylor.

He said the partnership, which runs employment programmes across East Lancashire, would be “delighted” to work with Tesco.

“I think Tesco are leaders in this field and they have an excellent reputation in community engagement,” he said.

“If the unemployed people of Hyndburn can get jobs at somewhere like Tesco, it is easier for them to progress up the employment ladder.”

When the huge scheme was approved by councillors last year, opponents, including independent councillor Michael Pritchard, said it would kill off small businesses and turn Accrington into a ghost town.

Yesterday, Coun Pritchard said: “In fairness, it will bring jobs to the town and if they give 250 of them to the unemployed of Hyndburn, I am all in favour of it.

“But it may well be just a PR exercise and time will tell.”

Tesco said the Regeneration Partnership, which has been launched previously in Gorton in Manchester and in Oldham, is rolled out in areas where there was a “need for jobs”.

The company will next year begin a consultation with Jobcentre Plus and carry out a leaflet drop in Hyndburn in a bid to identify those who have been out of work for more than six months.

An event will then be held so interested people can be interviewed and trained. People with jobs will still be able to apply in the normal way for 250 other jobs at the store.

A Tesco spokesman said: “We want to give people the skills to get back into the workplace.”

It is understood the Regeneration Partnership initiative will not be used at the proposed Tesco stores in Great Harwood and Padiham.