The unemployment rate has fallen faster this year in the Folkestone and Hythe parliamentary constituency than the average for the South East of England, and the whole of the country; so in terms of job creation, we are beating some of the best.The latest figures published last week also show that in July both unemployment and youth unemployment, which includes 18 to 24 year olds, fell for the sixth month in a row. Both adult and youth unemployment are now at their lowest rates for over three and a half years. This follows the positive national news on growth now returning to all sectors of the economy.
Hard work and some good local initiatives are undoubtedly helping this trend. The Expansion East Kent Regional Growth Fund, supported by the Grow for It in East Kent campaign are bringing in new investment which is creating jobs. Shepway Council’s apprenticeships scheme has also helped a large number of young people find opportunities as well as supporting local firms in filling places that they have available. If you are interested in finding out more about this you can email the council’s economic regeneration team on apprenticeships@shepway.gov.uk. On Wednesday this week I also attended the launch of the new School for Creative Start-up businesses which will be based at the Creative Foundation in Folkestone.
I want us to build on this progress and make sure that we are doing all we can to help people find work, which is why I am organising a jobs fair which will be held at the Quarterhouse in Folkestone on Thursday 19th September. The idea of the jobs fair is that local firms with real vacancies to fill now, or who are likely to be recruiting in the coming months, are there to meet local people who are looking for work. There will also be organisations represented who can help with training, organising voluntary work and work experience that can help build up someones CV whilst they are looking for a full time position. You can find out more about the jobs fair from its website www.folkestonejobsfair.com . We will be adding the names of organisations that have signed up to be part of the day, and I am delighted that local business like Saga, Jackson’s Fencing and Lydd Airport have already committed to supporting the jobs fair.
There has been some concern over the last couple of weeks about whether Remembrance Sunday parades will continue to receive all the support they need from the local police, who have traditionally helped with road closures and marshaling the event. I have taken this issue up with the Chief Constable of Kent, but I’m pleased to hear that with regards to the parade in Dymchurch, where particular questions had been raised, that the Kent police will now be supporting this parade, as in the past.
We must all work together to ensure that all of the remembrance parades can continue this November as they have done for many decades. We are about to enter the centenary year for the outbreak of the First World War when these acts of remembrance will gain even greater significance and deserve all the support we can give them.