HM Treasury News Release
104/97                                       11 September 1997
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                 BUSINESS BACKS WELFARE TO WORK
           TOP COMPANIES COMMITMENT TO JOBS PROGRAMME


Some of Britain's major companies have committed themselves to
taking part in the New Deal for the young and long term
unemployed, Chancellor Gordon Brown told the Churches' Enquiry
Into Unemployment and the Future of Work today.

Welcoming the companies' commitment, Gordon Brown said: 

     " Two months ago I met business representatives to launch
     the New Deal for the young and long term unemployed.
     Today I can report encouraging progress :

     -    Allied Domecq expect to offer at least 1000
          opportunities

     -    Tesco guarantee to interview all New deal applicants
          for work in their stores

     -    Ford will substantially increase training places for
          unskilled young people 

     -    Nat West small business advisers will promote the
          New Deal to clients aiming to increase their
          workforce.

     "  Other companies coming up with ways to support the New
     Deal include BAA, Radisson Hotel group, Lloyds-TSB,
     Rover, Dixons, Marks & Spencer, Sainsburys, Unipart,
     Amersham International, Northern Foods, Grand
     Metropolitan, GEC, Rover, Jaguar, Peugeot, the Prudential
     and Tarmac.

     " Such progress so soon reflects the commitment of
     business to tackling the problems of unemployment in
     Britain as part of the Government's welfare to work
     programme. "   

The Chancellor also set out progress in developing coaching
and mentoring schemes,  opportunities for self employment and
the role of churches in the New Deal. He continued :

     " David Blunkett and I will shortly set out to recruit up
to 50,000 coaches and    outside independent mentors to
encourage the young in the workplace. All    will be
volunteers, some professionals, others who have already
successfully   moved from welfare to work.


     " For many young people, self-employment offers another
     route from welfare to work. We are looking at ways to
     help and support them take the first steps towards
     running their own business, with training and support
     from those who have already succeeded.

     " The churches' leadership represents an important
     contribution to helping the most disadvantaged. I want us
     to work together to achieve more, to promote awareness
     and debate.

     " Each Church and church member can be an ambassador for
     the New Deal in their own area. You know at first hand
     the problems in the communities you represent, and you
     know local employers.  

     " Talk to them. Ask them how many unemployed they are
     planning to take on under the New Deal. Challenge them to
     make use of under-used training facilities.

     " Talk to the young unemployed. Help them to raise their
     sights, motivate them and help to unlock the potential
     which each has and which must be fulfilled.

     " Most of all, help us to remove the fatalism and
     cynicism which abounds. Replace it with your energy and
     inspiration. 

     "  Together we can achieve what your Report aspires to:
     to challenge defeatism and complacency in the interests
     of the most disadvantaged in the community. " 



Notes to Editors

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