SWINDON’S Jobcentre team is helping employers fill thousands of vacancies for pub, hotel and restaurant staff ahead of the festive period.

There are currently 4,460 people on Universal Credit in Swindon, which is 1,800 - 29 per cent - fewer than this time last year. There are 760 aged 18 to 24 claiming benefits in the town, which is 265 - 26 per cent - fewer than 12 months ago.

Amanda Welch said: “Jobcentre work coaches are busy focussing on helping employers fill their seasonal and permanent vacancies in hospitality.

“Swindon employment advisors have been working with The Village Hotel to fill their vacancies - they held an open day specifically for our customers, 53 attended and one was offered a job on the day.

“The employer’s feedback said it had better candidate attendance than their own arranged recruitment events.

“Swindon Doubletree Hilton attended Swindon Jobcentre to deliver a hospitality information session to 10 customers, six of which applied for work and have interviews pending.

“The changes to Universal Credit and the older workers’ offer mean we can help even more claimants receive intensive support, to help them get into work and seize opportunities to increase their job prospects and pay.”

In the last few weeks, the team has helped eight people improve their CVs and coach them through online applications before the job vacancy adverts went live online.

The jobcentre has recruited 13 staff for Sodexo, which opened in the town this month.

A spokesman said: “'So exciting to put names against roles, we so appreciate your support, enthusiasm and the space to run the assessments and interviewing.”

More than 70 people on Universal Credit attended an NHS awareness session at the Canal Walk jobcentre on Wednesday which also had four other care providers seeking to fill vacancies.

KBR is holding a recruitment day for a variety of their vacancies this Wednesday and offering transport from the Jobcentre for people to attend. Referrals to this event can be made by work coaches.

Thames Water has been happy with the Jobcentre team’s help with a recruitment campaign for customer service advisors.

A spokesman added: “The team has taken the time to get to know the behaviours we look for and to understand the customer service roles we are recruiting with any related assessment criteria.”

For more information about job vacancies in the area, visit the DWP’s Find A Job website www.gov.uk/find-a-job