On Thursday next week I will be holding a jobs fair at The Quarterhouse in Folkestone. The event is running from 10am until 3pm and is open to everyone who is looking for a work or a new opportunity. I am grateful to Shepway Council, Saga, Jackson's Fencing and Lydd Airport for their support for the event. Other major local employers who will be attending include HV Wooding, Holiday Extras, Port Lympne and EDF energy. You can find the full list of businesses and organisations who will be there on the jobs fair website www.folkestonejobsfair.com.
The idea of the jobs fair is for people who are looking for work to meet organisations who have positions available. Representatives from the Folkestone Jobs Centre, and Avanta who run the work programme for people who have been out of work for six months or more, will also be there to give help and advice. People who are interested in an apprenticeship can discuss this with local firms, and with Shepway Council whose apprenticeship programme has successfully helped many local people find and take up the opportunity they'd been looking for. The Shepway Volunteer Centre will also be there to talk about their network and the wide range of projects they support. Many people give up their spare time as volunteers to support the community, but for people looking for work it can also be a useful addition to a CV when between jobs.
Overall there are very positive signs for the local jobs market. Unemployment has been falling faster in the Folkestone and Hythe constituency this year than the average decline across the south east of England. In addition to this, across the country there are currently more people in work, more businesses trading, and fewer households where no-one is working, since records began. I believe though that it is important we continue to do all we can to help people find the work they are looking for. If the jobs fair sounds like it would be useful for you, I'll look forward to seeing you there on 19th September.
On Friday last week I met with Andrew Park and Rob Coward of Cognitive Media in Folkestone. This business is a real Folkestone success story, and part of the burgeoning creative business cluster in the old town area. Cognitive Media continues to win plaudits and new contracts for their animation and design work. If you have not previously seen it, you can view a sample of their creative work on their website www.cognitivemedia.co.uk.
Later that day I was delighted to be invited by Tayo Bella, a partner and manager of the New Romney Pharmacy, to open their new business in the town's high street. It will be open at weekends and between 7am and 11pm on weekdays. I would like to wish Tayo and the team every success for the future.
This week Sarah and I also celebrated our ninth wedding anniversary. We'd like to send our congratulations as well to other couples whose anniversary falls at this time of the year.