Job help stepped up amid economic worries

Extra job support is being made available by a local authority after a survey found residents were concerned about the economy.

Surrey County Council (SCC) said that STEP Surrey, a new gateway for skills and employment, was now "live".

Skills bootcamps, which provide free fast-track training in sectors like construction, cyber security and green industries, are also available, it added.

It comes after SCC survey data revealed a third of people in the county know someone who has lost their job in the past year.

Research gathered by the local authority's in-house resident panel from October showed more than half of residents feel their financial circumstances have worsened.

More than one-in-five of those currently employed expressed worries about losing their job within the next 12 months, it added.

"While Surrey's economy is performing well overall, our residents are not exempt from issues facing the whole of the UK," said Matt Furniss, SCC cabinet member for highways, transport and economic growth.

"These findings show that many of our residents are being directly impacted by challenges such as the cost of living, unemployment or health issues," he continued.

• Cash boost to help people back into work in Surrey

The 550 people who responded to the survey called inflation, housing and infrastructure the "biggest economic challenges" facing the county.

Nearly 70% felt the economic situation in Surrey had worsened over the past year.

The government announced in September that a total of £9.8m will be spent across the county by 2030 to help sick and disabled people back into work.

It is hoped that the help, involving employment coaches and job matching services, will be offered to 2,500 people in Surrey.

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