The Samsung plant is due to close in April

Last month, South Korean electronics giant Samsung announced it was closing its plant at Wynyard, near Billingham, in April with the loss of 420 jobs.

A job shop has now been opened at the factory to help the staff facing redundancy.

It has been set up by the Samsung Project Group, a group of public sector agencies which has come together to help workers.

Job Centre Plus North East Region director, Vincent Robinson, said: "We have just started information sessions for the workforce in groups and we are offering one-to-one advice for those who request it.

"The sessions have been very well received by employees.

"We can offer the latest job vacancies in the Tees Valley and the North East as a whole and can match up the individual skills of Samsung workers to those opportunities available.

Job interviews

"We can also advise workers about retraining, through bodies such as the Learning and Skills Council, and help those looking to go into self-employment as some workers in similar situations in the North East have done in the past."

There will also be information about further education courses and benefits.

Samsung has set up portable buildings so that prospective employers can conduct job interviews with staff.

The Samsung Project Group is led by Stockton Borough Council with help from One NorthEast, Job Centre Plus, the Learning and Skills Council, Government Office for the North East, Tees Valley Regeneration, Tees Valley Partnership and English Partnerships.