Council’s local recruitment policy comes into force

Councillor Liam O'Rourke says he wants local residents to be the first when it comes to securing council jobs

A new council policy which makes a commitment that certain roles will be for borough residents only has come into force.

Under the new scheme, all jobs paid at a salary of between £16,491 and £17,500 (full time equivalent) a year will be open only to residents who pay their council tax to Rochdale Borough Council.

The new initiative is designed to improve the lives of local residents by boosting their employment opportunities. It is also expected to improve the local economy by giving residents more money to spend in local businesses, which in turn may then be able to employ more people.

The jobs will include roles as diverse as administrative officers, street operatives, cleaners, caretakers, caterers and school crossing patrols.

Councillor Liam O’Rourke, cabinet member for business, skills and employment at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “Having a job makes a huge difference to people’s lives and we want our residents to be the first in the queue when it comes to securing these vital opportunities.

“These jobs are not just a livelihood, but also a first step on the career ladder and the chance to move onto even bigger and better things in the future. Some of the council’s senior managers started their careers many years ago in these types of roles.

“Giving our residents the opportunity to earn money also benefits the wider economy, because they have more cash to spend with local businesses.”

Advertising the jobs with a local company also benefits the local economy and Rochdale Online recently won a tender to advertise the jobs.

Examples of the jobs advertised

Administrative Assistant
Salary: £16,781-£17,772 Per Year
https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/classifieds/jobs/22398/administrative-assistant

Catering Assistant
Salary: £16,781-£17,772 Pro Rata Per Year
https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/classifieds/jobs/22388/catering-assistant 

Caretaker
Salary: £16,781-£17,772 Per Year
https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/classifieds/jobs/22399/caretaker

All council roles are paid at or above £8.45 per hour, which is higher than the so-called national living wage of £7.50 for over 25s.

The jobs will include full and part time jobs, and will be a mix of temporary and permanent roles.

The council will also be working with Employment Links Partnership (ELP) to help encourage applications from people who may have been out of work for a while and are not confident about applying for jobs.

The Employment Links Partnership, which is part of the council, specialises in helping people get job ready by supporting them with access to training and preparation for interviews.