Pop-up Jobcentre opens in Hadleigh to remove barriers to finding employment

A new outreach programme has been launched in Hadleigh to help jobless people find employment, off the back of a strong response to a jobs fair.

Hadleigh Town Council and the Porch Project charity has teamed up with the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) to establish a pop-up Jobcentre branch.

Based at the Porch Project’s HQ in the High Street and supported by the town council’s youth strategy and associated funding, the centre will enable people to meet with a work coach to assist them with intensive work search activity.

The pop-up was introduced after a gap in support for job-seekers was identified in Hadleigh, with people from the town previously having to travel to Sudbury or Ipswich to access services.

Julia Nix, East Anglia district manager at the DWP, said: “I am very pleased with this excellent outcome to be delivering Jobcentre services in the local community, which would not have been possible without the supportive collaboration from everyone involved.

“I am sure this will benefit those customers who need it most and look forward to recording positive results from the initiative.”

South Suffolk MP James Cartlidge said he had visited the Porch Project and the Hadleigh Hosts Ukrainians group in recent months, and found that both had highlighted the lack of a Jobcentre in the town as a barrier to work for local people.

“Following a meeting with Julia Nix, we agreed that Hadleigh needed a Jobcentre to support job-seekers in the local area,” he said.

“I was, therefore, delighted when meeting with the Porch Project in Hadleigh that they were supportive of such an initiative.

“I am also very grateful to Hadleigh Town Council, which has made this project possible.”

The announcement follows the MP’s latest annual employment and skills fair at Hadleigh High School on Friday, which was attended by more than 400 people.

More than 50 stands were set up at the event, representing businesses across a range of industries, including manufacturing, engineering, hospitality, transport, aviation, emergency services, health and social care.

In addition, adult education and training providers like West Suffolk College, Apprenticeships Suffolk and Lapwing Education were on hand to share information about courses, apprenticeships and support programmes available in the area.