Project gives helping hand to long term unemployed

A BUSINESS Community Support Officer (BCSO) scheme in Rotherham has helped 17 long term unemployed get back to work.

Hanif Khan, owner of furniture firm Homefair, contacted the scheme via The Barnsley and Rotherham Chamber of Commerce to seek help in finding staff for a new restaurant and garden centre.

The scheme, funded by the Rotherham Enterprise project, boosted Homeflair’s recruitment initiative by £1,000 after the company applied for the Job Centre Plus grant.

A support officer oversaw the recruitment process on Homeflair’s behalf free of charge.

The eight garden centre employees, six restaurant assistants and three retail workers had been out of work for more than six months.

Mr Khan said: “I found using this project for my recruitment needs very helpful, saving a lot of my time which I would have spent finding the right candidates. The service was good and the staff very helpful and efficient in meeting my needs.”

Brij Chaggar, who co-ordinates the support officers that travel around the borough offering business advice to companies and recommending programmes, said: “We are delighted that Homeflair and the Rotherham community have benefited so much from the service provided, which wouldn’t be possible without the Rotherham Enterprise project.

“If businesses come forward and use our services which vary from strategic planning to recruitment, more money and time can be saved through top advice which will help companies advance in their markets. That extra helping hand may also assist many more long term unemployed people back into work.”