WHILE unemployment in Swindon is well below the national average at just 1.3 per cent, there are still fantastic efforts being made locally to help those looking for work into careers that best suit them.

Yesterday I was at Steam for Swindon Jobfest 2017 which is an event put on by Swindon Borough Council to encourage engagement between local employers and young people.

Last year more than 80 employers attended and this year was equally successful with major employers including Nationwide, Network Rail, Thames Water, Great Western Hospital, Honda and BMW.

In addition there were smaller employers, including accountancy firms, marketing companies and recruitment agencies. Both the RAF and Army Reserves also had stands, which were very popular.

Not only was the event a chance to gain employment, but it is also provided an opportunity to gain valuable advice from employers and learn exactly what skills they are looking for.

I spoke to many people at the event, including the employers who were enthusiastic to chat about the opportunities they have on offer, as well as the young people who were excited (albeit a little apprehensive) to see the roles available.

One lad I chatted to had battled with severe anxiety before even contemplating looking for work.

Thankfully, he had managed to overcome this barrier by working with fantastic local organisations including Inner Flame and he was now completely confident talking to different employers and discussing what he had to offer.

It’s stories like this which demonstrate just how important these events are.

Having a job with a regular pay packet can provide a real sense of purpose and pride, and rightly the Government has put major focus on getting more people into work.

That’s why, since 2010 we have seen more than 8,400 jobs created locally.

But it is right that more energy is now being put into assisting those who require just a little bit more help to ensure that they get training and support which is tailored for them.

That’s why it is so encouraging to see the fantastic work being done at Job Centres, especially through the introduction of individual work coaches and the small employer pilot which aims to engage with smaller local employers in order to help with their recruitment needs.

Finally, councils are setting the amount of council tax that they will charge.

Amid all this, the Government is rightly recognising that local authorities are facing increasing cost pressures, predominately from Adult Social care, which is why from 2018/19 they will allow councils to keep 100 per cent of their business rate growth.

I have just finished serving on the Local Government Finance Bill where we went through the legislation line by line.

I spoke up for this move as it represents a huge boost to Swindon as it will reward our town for its impressive growth year on year.

Therefore, as MPs, both Robert Buckland and I will continue to champion our business community to attract new investment.

This local economic growth will secure the next generation of jobs and will deliver a crucial increase in funding for our vital local services.