Jobcentre Plus is co-ordinating activity across the country to ensure comprehensive support is in place for redundant MG Rover and supply chain workers, regardless of where redundancies arise.

A Jobcentre Plus Hotline, 0121 254 5710, will be available from 10.00am to 4.00pm over the weekend and from 9.00am to 5.00pm throughout the week. Expert staff will be on hand to offer Rover workers:

• advice and guidance on help available from Jobcentre Plus and how to access it;
• guidance on support offered by partner organisations; and
• appointments for new claim interviews.

When workers are advised of their redundancy they will receive a “Here to help you” pack, developed by Jobcentre Plus, containing advice, guidance and useful contacts.

From Tuesday 19th April Jobcentre Plus and partner organisations will have an on site presence at Longbridge, offering help and advice to redundant workers.

The Birmingham South West Jobcentre Plus office on Tessall Lane, Northfield, will be open from 10.00am to 4.00pm on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th April and will handle claims for workers from 9.00am to 5.00pm on Monday and from 9.00am to 10.00pm Tuesday to Friday next week. Advice will also be available on CV preparation, interviews and training.

In addition, the Jobseeker Direct Line, 0845 6060234, offers a personalised job broking service to all redundant workers. At any one time there are around half a million jobs nationwide, with further access through this site to thousands of additional vacancies from partner organisations.

From Monday 18th April an Employer Vacancy Line, 0121 452 5453, will be available to employers offering vacancies to Rover and supply chain workers. Jobcentre Plus is already working with some employers and will be approaching others. Jobcentre Plus is also working with the Learning and Skills Council to put packages in place to help MG Rover workers prepare for new jobs.