Jobcentre Plus staff in the Black Country are celebrating their success in helping hundreds of local people find jobs at Asda's new superstore in Walsall, which opened last month.

Walsall Jobcentre handled more than 2000 application forms, and worked with Walsall College to provide interview rooms and waiting areas for applicants, along with facilities for Asda to use during the recruitment process.

Jobcentre Plus also organised and delivered pre-recruitment events for potential applicants, some at community venues in the town's most deprived areas. Around 500 local people have found jobs at Asda thanks to this successful partnership between Jobcentre Plus, Asda and Walsall College.

Bobbie Wearing, employer engagement manager for Jobcentre Plus said: "This phenomenal success results from several months of planning, preparation and organisation. It shows just how effective we can be when we work together with employers and partners. I am delighted that we have worked so successfully with Asda to help hundreds of local people into work."

Jon Clements, manager of ASDA Walsall said: "It is really encouraging for Asda to be supported by Jobcentre Plus with opening a new store, especially by preparing people on the 1 day courses. It gives Asda a great deal of confidence. I really appreciate the level of support and the strategic approach that took place, both welcoming us to Walsall and assisting us with our recruitment needs."

Notes for Editors

Please see the attached photograph for your consideration to use alongside this article. Left to right: Beverley Morris, Walsall Jobcentre Plus labour market and recruitment adviser; Jon Clement, ASDA store manger; and Bobbie Wareing, Jobcentre Plus employer engagement manager.

Jobcentre Plus, part of the Department for Work and Pensions, brings together employment and benefit services for people of working age and is a key element in the Government's objectives to help people based on 'Work for those who can, support for those who cannot'. It provides a professional and modern service to meet the diverse needs of employers and those seeking work, including:

• Personal advisers to provide practical support and advice to help those in need find and keep work, including training provision and benefits guidance;
• A dedicated service to support employers in filling their vacancies quickly and successfully, including the ability to place jobs online;
• Ability to search for jobs both online and over the phone through Jobpoints in Jobcentre Plus offices, the Jobseeker Direct phone line and through the website; and
• Swift, secure and professional access to benefits for those entitled to them.

Customers can access Jobcentre Plus services through around 1,000 locations across Great Britain, including over 800 newly refurbished Jobcentre Plus offices. Touch-screen terminals and Customer Access Phones are also available in a further 120 sites such as libraries and local authority premises. Jobcentre Plus works with over 275,000 employers to place 17,000 people into work every week. Over 400,000 vacancies are listed each week on its website and more than 4m job search requests are received, making it the number one UK recruitment website.

For further information on the services that Jobcentre Plus provides employers and people of working age visit www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk

DWP Press Office: 0121 626 2992 or 07876 546583 - Jo Carroll
Out of hours: 07659 108883
Website: www.dwp.gov.uk