Ashley Dalton MP hosted a jobs fair for the local community, in partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions. Local residents searching for a job had an exciting opportunity to meet with local organisations that are actively hiring.
The jobs fair took place in the Skelmersdale Ecumenical Centre on Friday 23rd January from 9:00am to 12:00pm, and had stalls from local businesses including Essity, Edge Hill University, West Lancashire College and Alternative Futures Group, showcasing their organisation and available roles.
This event follows the Labour government’s series of policies to grow the economy under their Plan to Make Work Pay, including guaranteed six month paid work placements for eligible 18-21 year olds and increased National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage.
The Employment Rights Act, which came into law last month, has strengthened workers’ rights with measures including ending exploitative zero-hour contracts and ending ‘fire and rehire’ practices.
Ashley Dalton, MP for West Lancashire said:
“I’m thrilled that we had such a strong turnout for my jobs fair. It was great to see over 200 local people taking steps to find their next opportunity.
“I heard from constituents who told me how much they got out of the event and are really excited for all the opportunities that came from it. I also spoke to local organisations who were really pleased to meet so many potential future employees.
“Events like this are so important to me as the local MP for West Lancashire. We know unemployment is an issue for lots of people and I’m really keen to get as many people working as possible. Not only is this great for our local and national economy, but we know that working is good for our physical and mental health – something I’m really passionate about.”
Rachel Shield, Employer Adviser at Skelmersdale and Ormskirk Jobcentre Plus said:
“It was inspiring to see local employers engaging directly with members of the community, creating opportunities that can make a real difference. Collaborating with the local MP’s team to support this event was a really positive experience, and we look forward to seeing more initiatives like this in the future.”
Liam Need, Customer Service Coordinator at West Lancashire College said:
“Ashley Dalton’s jobs fair today was a fantastic opportunity for West Lancashire College. We spoke to many local people who were really interested to learn more about what we do and are going to apply for upcoming courses with us.”
Paul Barton, HR Manager at Essity’s Skelmersdale site said:
“At Essity, we really value community events like this. They give us a chance to be visible locally, have real conversations with people about the roles we offer, and make sure Essity is front of mind when individuals are thinking about their next career move.
“As a long-standing local employer, it’s important to us that people understand not just what we do, but the opportunities we can offer to build long-term, meaningful careers close to home.”