Jobs boost for borough

Councillor Mohammed Sharif

Around 650 new jobs will be created in the Rochdale borough over the next two years as part of the Government’s Future Jobs Fund.

Greater Manchester has been awarded up to £52 million for the city region to create as many as 8,000 jobs in total.

The money will be used to create jobs in public services over and above the normal levels of spending. The money could be used for projects as diverse as street repairs, housing refurbishment, in galleries and museums and in the care sector.

The jobs aren’t available straightaway though – details are expected of the first vacancies in the autumn with the jobs starting in late October.

Councillor Mohammad Sharif, cabinet member for regeneration on Rochdale Borough Council, said: “This is great news and a massive boost for the local job market. The money will help under 25s in the borough especially - not only to get into employment but also make a difference to their local communities. Times are hard but this extra support will help bring more opportunities to get people in to work.”

The money comes from the Future Jobs Fund announced in the Chancellor's Budget Statement in March and was awarded by the Department of Work And Pensions as part of the new Young Person’s Guarantee.

The Association of Greater Manchester Authorities approved the bid which is being coordinated by the Commission for the New Economy.

Responding to the news, Lord Peter Smith, Chair of AGMA, said: "I am delighted that our bid to the Government has been successful. We're already working hard to limit the damage of the downturn on our communities. The Future Fobs Fund will provide a very important boost to our efforts, giving us new resources and opening up new opportunities to get thousands of people into important jobs providing paid work."