New jobs hope for Peterborough as Universal Credit claimants rise

Figures released today show the number of claimants in the Peterborough local authority area now stands at 25,560 - up 824 people during the month to November 12.

The rate of increase is higher than the regional and national averages.

But the figures from the Department of Work and Pensions comes as the number of jobs available reached more than 500.

Statistics from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) show that across the East of England the number of claimants rose by 2.6 per cent to 486,104 while the increase in England was 2.8 per cent to 5,068,953.

A spokesman for the DWP said: “The figures continue to be slightly above the national level as Peterborough and the county had relatively high levels of employment and so the impact of the pandemic has been greater.

“The continuation of the furlough scheme has also helped to keep the figures down.

“But the figures have not dropped back to the levels we saw in March before Covid.

But he added: “However, it is not all gloom - there are still plenty of jobs out there.”

According to the DWP’s own jobs website there are currently 572 vacancies across a range of employers.

Retailer Home Bargains, which is opening a new store in the former Toys R Us store, next month, is finalising its appointment for 100 staff at the store in Bourges Boulevard.

It will be the first employer to hold face-to-face interviews with candidates at the DWP offices in Peterborough since the outbreak of Covid-19.

Online retailer Amazon is still recruiting about 300 seasonal staff a month for its fulfilment centre in Kingston Park while recruitment is also in progress for five staff at a new Premier Inn hotel in Peterborough, 10 staff at Cera Care and more than 10 new recruits are being sought by Peterborough insurance giant BGL Group while Man Commercial is looking for eight qualified security guards.

There are also a number of companies planning moves into Peterborough including construction firm Taylor Wimpey and spice gaint McCormicks.