BUSINESSES across the South East are reaping the benefits of a new service from Jobcentre Plus to help them recruit and retain staff.

A specially-trained manager will now provide a link with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to ensure they make the best of the services available.

The initiative follows discussions with local business organisations on how their members can get the right staff for their vacancies.

Jonathan Eccles, regional SME manager, will be working with bodies such as Business Links, Chambers of Commerce and the Federation of Small Businesses, to promote the support and advice available through Jobcentre Plus.

Services include giving training to businesses on laws that affect them, such as the recent changes to the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).

Help is also available from Jobcentre Plus on the best way to fill and advertise vacancies through its nationwide network, including Jobpoints, which are used by more than 1.5 million people a week, and even in Europe by the European Employment Services facility.

With just a few clicks of the mouse, employers can also post their vacancies on the internet via the Employer Direct web page at www.jobcentreplus. gov.uk

Mr Eccles said: "SMEs represent a huge growth area in this region and subsequently form a significant part of the employer market.

"At Jobcentre Plus we are working to develop our services for SMEs and networking with trade organisations to better inform them on recruitment issues.

"For instance, Jobcentre Plus can sift applications and pre-screen applicants to help businesses match the right candidate to the right job, saving the company valuable time and money."

Furthermore, employers whose businesses are suffering from staff shortages can receive extra help from programmes such as the New Deal.

Thanks to this, training may be given to jobseekers to meet an industry's needs, such as providing specialist skills for call centre, IT or customer care work.

There may even be financial incentives for a company if it recruits a New Deal participant.

In addition to the £750 that businesses can receive towards training a participant, they may be given a weekly subsidy of £60 or £75, paid for 26 weeks.

If businesses need a place to interview applicants, Jobcentre Plus can often provide facilities to help manage the interview process.

"Sometimes small businesses struggle to find an office in which to interview people," said Mr Eccles.

"Jobcentre Plus understands this can be a problem and is upgrading new offices to include interview suites in order to drive down SMEs' costs."

For more information, contact your nearest Jobcentre Plus office, or call Employer Direct on 0845 601 2001.