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As the impact of the credit crunch starts to be felt by local businesses, Babergh District Council is reminding employers who may be about to lay-off staff of the practical help that is available to them and their workforces.
Babergh is part of the Suffolk Redundancy Network (SRN), an East of England Development Agency-funded partnership which includes local councils, Jobcentre Plus, enterprise agencies and local training providers. SRN provides support to individuals being made redundant.
If a major redundancy is proposed, Jobcentre Plus is able to offer a rapid response package through tapping into a Government fund providing on site talks and advice (such as CV writing, job search, interview skills) and retraining to those affected.
Smaller proposed redundancies will receive similar support, albeit with a lower financial contribution for retraining.
According to Neil Henry, Babergh’s Community Development Manager and Chairman of the SRN “the key message to businesses considering lay-offs is ‘don’t delay in getting hold of us’! Firms making or thinking of making redundancies should seek support as early as possible so that the SRN can maximise its help”.
One Babergh-based company recently in the news for having to make a number of staff redundant, praised the swift actions of the partners in the SRN.
According to Lee Skelton, site manager at Copella’s Boxford operation "the proactive support available from Babergh District Council, Jobcentre Plus and EEDA's R2R programme complements the support programme that we have in place to help staff affected by recent redundancies. Engaging at an early stage with the Suffolk Redundancy Network ensured that right from the start of the process those affected were offered a wide range of advice, practical support and funding for retraining whilst seeking alternative employment."
The central contact point for firms seeking support is Penny Wright at Jobcentre Plus: Penny.Wright@jobcentreplus.gsi.gov.uk or call 01473 267992.
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