COPELAND Borough Council is offering financial backing to businesses who take on jobseekers.

The wage subsidy scheme, which the council has successfully run in the past, is available to firms with less than 50 staff. They can apply for up to £3,000 towards wages and training costs for 26 weeks. The new staff must live in Copeland and be unemployed or in receipt of benefits.

Copeland’s Elected Mayor, Mike Starkie, said: “This is such a great investment both in our workforce and in the business community. It allows businesses the financial space to train staff properly, and it is giving unemployed people a direct path into the world of work.

“High quality staff are a lynchpin in any successful economy. It’s great to see this programme moving ahead, and i look forward to seeing the results in our local workforce.”

The incentive is part of a programme of work from the Copeland Skills and Enterprise Partnership, led by Copeland Council and supported by a range of businesses and training providers.

The partnership is keen to hear from employers with vacancies. Subsidies for both full and part-time roles are available, but they must offer at least 16 hours’ work per week.

Jobseekers will be referred to the scheme by the Department for Work and Pensions or other partner agencies. Successful candidates will also be offered workplace training and mentoring.

The Copeland Skills and Enterprise programme is funded by Sellafield Ltd and Copeland Community Fund, and delivered by Copeland Borough Council.

Employers who would like to find out more should contact Chris Cunliffe, Copeland’s Skills and Enterprise Programme Officer, at  chris.cunliffe@copeland.gov.uk