MARK DEMPSEY: Labour launch campaign for a 1000 Jobs Club

Restoring Swindon as an economic powerhouse is a key part of my Positive Plan for a Better Swindon.

And that’s why I am calling for creation of a Swindon 1000 Jobs Club – to recruit 1000 companies, and get a 1000 people into work.

Swindon was once the economic powerhouse and the zero unemployment town. Although our economy is now growing again, people are not feeling the benefits of that growth. In the UK people are on average £1600 worse off than in 2010.  In Swindon people are £2,500 worse off, a quite sobering truth.

There are still 6,500 people out of work.  Swindon is the 10 worst-performing UK locations for jobs growth and according to RBS Swindon’s growth is lagging behind the national average.

This shows that we have a long way to go to getting back to being the zero unemployment town, and that we need real change to rebuild Swindon’s economy and restore our position as an economic powerhouse.

A key starting point is to help people get into work.  And that’s why I am calling for the creation of a 1000 Jobs Club to help get 1000 people in Swindon back into work.

Plymouth Council has set up its own 1000 Club. It has recruited over 1000 companies and has created 5746 job opportunities since its creation.  The scheme costs just £40,000 to run, and so this is equates to £60 per job.  With my plan we could achieve the same results in Swindon.

In addition Labour will deliver a Youth Jobs Guarantee – guaranteeing a starter job to every 18 to 24 year old unemployed for a year. Labour will also create 80,000 new high quality apprenticeships, and ensure every school leaver who gets the grades can start on a training scheme.

It is also crucial that we face the major economic challenges facing Swindon.  The Council’s own research indicated that a high percentage of firms reporting skills gaps. And we are the biggest town in the country without a University.  That’s why I have been campaigning for a University for Swindon.

And companies have also highlighted the image of the town centre as a key weakness affecting Swindon economic future.  Swindon has slipped further down the league table of town centres from 55th in 2010 to 72nd now, while Bristol, Bath and Oxford have all improved.  That’s why I have set out an ambitious vision for our town centre based on the successful examples of Bristol and Bath - and with our railway heritage at its heart. And Labour’s promise to cut business rates will help the high street and breathe new life into Swindon.

Our Positive Plan for a Better Swindon provides the action needed to rebuild Swindon’s economy.  A Swindon 1000 Jobs Club is a key part of that package.  This is the positive action we need to tackle unemployment and build a better future for the people of our town.

Mark Dempsey