JOBSEEKERS are getting a helping hand on the employment ladder through a series of new projects.

Copeland Council is spearheading the new scheme which will train advice workers, run courses to help people get into work, fund items such as interview clothes and specialist work equipment and subsidise traineeships.

It aims to give 45 unemployed people work experience, interview preparation and the qualifications and skills to make them ready for the world of work.

The council's deputy mayor, Lena Hogg, has praised the projects calling them a "practical" and "productive way" of getting more people into work.

"We have worked hard to see where the gaps in provision are, and what is stopping some people moving into employment," said Coun Hogg, who is responsible for the borough's regeneration.

"These schemes address those difficulties directly and will hopefully result in more people being ready to enter the world of work."

Coun Hogg said that although there are many opportunities for apprenticeships and traineeships in the nuclear sector, the council wants to extend that to other sectors.

"I know good employers will want to get involved and I look forward to seeing the results of all of these schemes over the next three years," she added.

The scheme is supported through Copeland Work and Skills Partnership and is being funded by the Copeland Community Fund. The council has funded a staff member for three years to deliver the project.

During the three years of the programme, the council hopes to achieve a number of goals.

Six staff members from partner organisations within the partnership will gain NVQ qualifications in information, advice, guidance and mentoring.

The 45 unemployed people who will gain work experience will be supported by employers in the non-nuclear sector.

Job-seekers will also be able to apply to an Employability Fund to help access work of training. If they don;t have clothes suitable for interviews, or a potential employer requires safety clothing which they cannot afford, the fund could help.

There will also be subsidised traineeships and apprenticeships offered through smaller and non-nuclear employers.

There are a large number of partners involved, including Citizens' Advice Bureau, Gen2, Howgill Children's and Family Centre and Phoenix Enterprise Centre at Cleator Moor.