A new Jobcentre has launched in a town centre shopping centre, taking over a former River Island unit.

Opening on Wednesday, the new branch has filled a site in Ashford's County Square shopping centre.

Ashford's branch is one of Jobcentre's new campaign of opening temporary sites, in direct response to the rise in unemployment caused by Covid.

It was officially opened by the Department for Work and Pensions Minister for Lords, Baroness Stedman-Scott, who welcomed new recruits through the doors.

She said: “We are ramping up our Jobcentre support all over the UK including Ashford, to help people get back on their feet as our economy gradually bounces back.

“Everyone on Universal Credit benefits from the expertise of a dedicated DWP Work Coach - they know the local jobs market and build strong relationships with nearby businesses, finding good quality jobs for the local community.

“This new site is an exciting expansion to our well-established Jobcentre network here in Ashford and across Kent.”

Ahead of the opening, 24 'work coaches' were hired for the new branch as part of a recruitment drive to hire 13,500 new work coaches across the country.

These employees will give one-on-one tailored support, and will facilitate each client's individual needs with the aid of Government schemes.

One of the new recruits is Bobby Harrop, who said: “I am so excited to have this wonderful new space where we are expanding our face-to-face services in Ashford in line with the government’s Plan for Jobs.

"We have invested in the recruitment of 13,500 new work coaches across the country to provide support for those who have been affected by the pandemic, as well as those who have been unemployed for longer in Ashford and the surrounding areas.”

Customer service leader Maria Landers is overseeing the new site, bringing with her 37 years of DWP experience.

Maria said: “Being able to support our customers within such a central location is a big part of breaking down barriers to work and helping our customers on their journey to financial independence.

"It is incredibly rewarding to see our customers making progress week-to-week and I love celebrating their successes with them along the way.”

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