Employers unite to fight jobs blight

Several major employers are already committed to being at an event in Selby in a joint initiative between the public and private sector to tackle the number of young unemployed people throughout the district.

Among the companies which have signed up for the “App Event” 2012 in Selby later this month are Blue Arrow, Argos and the Ministry of Defence.

Representatives from Yorkshire Fresh Fruit, which has about 100 vacancies in the Selby area that will be partly filled by apprentices, will also be there.

The organisers are a range of organisations – including North Yorkshire County Council, Selby District Council, Job Centre Plus as well as Selby College and the North Yorkshire business and education partnership.

North Yorkshire County Council’s executive member for the authority’s recruitment and selection service, Councillor Carl Les, said: “Selby has a relatively high number of unemployed young people, and this is an innovative attempt to try to do something positive about it.”

There were 1,733 people claiming Job Seekers’ Allowance in the Selby district in February this year out of a total of 10,856 claimants across the whole of North Yorkshire.

The App Event 2012 will be held at Selby Abbey between 10am and 3pm on Thursday April 26.