SWINDON'S jobcentres are hosting recruitment events and spreading the word about vacancies to help unemployed clients find work.

The offices on Spring Gardens House and Canal Walk are inviting employers in to chat with staff and meet or interview the people they help.

Employment advisors joined the breakfast held by New College during National Apprenticeship Week to meet with companies which are offering apprenticeships in the area as well as them network with them and source new business.

Swindon Borough Council and Nationwide Engineering Group have taken on Kickstart customers into apprenticeships at the end of their Kickstart placements. The government-funded initiative supports employers to take on school graduates and unemployed 16-to-24-year-olds on universal credit for six months of paid work and skills improvement.

Jobcentre manager Sam Edwards said: “Our dedicated work coaches in Swindon are working flat out to help people get back into work, as we bounce back from the pandemic.

“We want people to know we’re there for them, and that we’re working with local employers to identify and help fill their vacancies in all sectors, but especially key industries.

“We are aware of the recruitment needs impacting Swindon in health, social care, supply chain roles including HGV and warehouse professionals.

“With Swindon now a regional distribution hub and a construction sector that continues to thrive with significant housing and commercial property development Swindon Jobcentre is delivering Way to Work, to help even more people into the jobs available.

“I believe the face-to-face approach, often denied to employers and customers during the pandemic, is great way to support people into jobs.

“The good thing is there are jobs out there, and the latest figures show the number of online job adverts in the south west have risen by 10.6 per cent since Covid-19 [arrived in the UK].”

The next recruitment event will be held on March 9 and will see an iCare interview bus parked up outside the centre’s Canal Walk offices.

iCare Careers is a not-for-profit brand commissioned to work in partnership with Swindon Borough Council to increase the number of applicants who choose to start a career in adult social care.

Working with more than 150 service providers in Swindon allows the team to actively promote, profile and present flexible working options for those seeking employment.

Roles available include; care and support staff, kitchen and catering, accounts and administration, maintenance and grounds, and domestic assistants.

Jobseekers who want to study and train could become a physiotherapist or an activities assistant among other roles. Vacancies in security and logistics are available from other companies.