Jobs Boost for Manchester

The Government has announced that Greater Manchester has been awarded up to £52 million to create as many as 8,000 jobs across the city region over the next two years.

The money comes from the Future Jobs Fund announced in the Chancellor’s Budget Statement in March and was awarded by the Department of Work And Pensions as part of the new Young Person’s Guarantee.

The money will be used to create jobs in public services over and above the normal levels of spending. The money will be used for projects as diverse as street repairs, housing refurbishment, in galleries and museums and in the care sector. The first opportunities should become available in October.

The Association of Greater Manchester Authorities approved the bid which is being coordinated by the Commission for the New Economy.

Responding to the news, Lord Peter Smith, Chair of AGMA and leader of Wigan Council said:

“I am delighted that our bid to the Government has been successful. We’re already working hard to limit the damage of the downturn on our communities. The Future Fobs Fund will provide a very important boost to our efforts, giving us new resources and opening up new opportunities to get thousands of people into important jobs providing paid work.”

Mike Blackburn, Chairman of the Commission for the New Economy said:

“I am delighted we have been able to secure these important resources at this difficult time. Our bid wasn’t just accepted, but commended by Government. The staff of the Commission, the ten AGMA local authorities, the Fire Service, Police, Social Landlords and a host of others have worked hard together in the best traditions of public service in this city to get this far. Now the hard work really begins of turning ideas into jobs for the people in Greater Manchester”.