TODAY, as part of the Plan for Jobs, the new temporary Jobcentre in Spencer House on Grovehill Road in Harrow Jobcentre Plus officially opened its doors, giving jobseekers more access to support and the latest opportunities.

The new Jobcentre will provide specialist services by working with local partners to bridge skill gaps and help people to transform their lives through tailored employment support.

Work Coaches at the new site in Harrow will join thousands of colleagues up and down the country at the forefront of the Government’s drive to get 500,000 people currently out of work into jobs by the end of the summer as part of the ‘Way to Work’ campaign.

The Jobcentre has 27 Work Coaches, some of whom joined the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) as part of the successful recruitment drive to hire 13,500 new Work Coaches across the country.

Each new Work Coach will help local people looking for work in Harrow with one-on-one tailored support to find their next role.

Mims Davies MP, Minister for Employment said:

“We know this has been a challenging time for many people and that’s why we’re boosting our DWP Jobcentre support in every community of the UK, including here in Harrow.

“Every customer benefits from having a dedicated Work Coach. They know the local jobs market and work with local businesses to match jobseekers to the latest opportunities.

“It’s brilliant to see our Plan for Jobs in action, from Kickstart to Sector-based Work Academy Programmes, our Work Coaches are there to help people thrive and progress in work.”

Harrow Spencer House Jobcentre Plus is one of the new temporary sites announced by DWP earlier this year, building on the existing 639 Jobcentres across the UK.

The additional space will accommodate new Work Coaches recruited in Harrow Spencer House, helping more people to transform their lives through tailored employment support.

Stefan Constantine is one of those new recruits based at London Borough of Harrow Spencer House.

DWP Work Coach Stefan Constantine said:

“I find satisfaction in seeing customers build their skills and, as a result of this, their confidence. When correctly matched to the help and support most suitable for them, UC customers often become more ambitious and hopeful of the future.”

Paresh Patel is the Customer Service Leader overseeing the new site, bringing with him 14 years of DWP experience.

Customer Service Leader Paresh Patel said:

“I am so proud of the hard work and dedication the team have shown in preparing the new office and am looking forward to open day, where we have arranged a fantastic jobs fair to welcome our claimants and give them a wonderful opportunity to work with some suitable local employers.

“Every claimant will be allocated a knowledgeable experienced work coach who has the skills to support them and coach them throughout their journey back into work.”